If Suthep Kritsanavarin’s decades as a documentary photographer have taught him anything, it’s that capturing powerful images is only half the battle. “To make great photojournalism, we must have a great story alongside great artistic ability,” the veteran lensman said.
“It is impossible to make a good photo without good information in it, a lesson to share.”
There are perhaps few Thai photographers better qualified to impart this advice than Suthep, who has spent morfe than 20 years covering environmental and humanitarian issues across Southeast Asia, earning international plaudits along the way.
But he said Bangkok’s sizeable population of local and foreign photojournalists has for years lacked a proper community to band them together. It was a desire to change this that drove Suthep last year to launch Photojourn, a Thailand-based group dedicated to developing the art of documentary images.
As well as building a community of experienced lensmen, Photojourn hopes to promote the craft by reaching out to budding photographers and helping them hone their skills.
The first step towards achieving that goal will take place this Saturday, when Photojourn holds its debut exhibition, Stories Through the Viewfinder.
The one-day event at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre will be divided into four separate activities, culminating in a projection slideshow featuring the work of 25 photojournalists from across the world covering stories from warfare in Central Africa to social issues in Colombia. Three Thai photographers will also be featured, selected from an open submission by Suthep and Paris-based curator Francoise Callier.
Jamaica and Zoe take refuge in the subway, where they slept regularly for more then two years. Photo: Andrea Star Reese
But for the city’s fledgling young lensmen, the main draw will perhaps be the portfolio review, which will give them the chance to have their work critiqued by a panel of three internationally recognised professionals.
“For many of them, this will be the very first time that their photos will be subjected to genuine criticism,” Suthep said. “It is something that many Thais generally don’t like or aren’t used to.”
Participants are encouraged to register for the portfolio review beforehand and will have to pay 500 baht for the privilege. But they can be sure of value for money, with the review panel comprised of veteran Associated Press photo editor Olivier Nilsson, multiple award-winning photojournalist Patrick Brown and a third member yet to be announced as Brunch went to press.
“It’s not about who’s better,” said Brown as he discussed what the panel will be looking at. “What interests me is someone with a unique voice on how they see the world. That’s the difference between a good photographer and a great photographer.”
He said the main challenge separating documentary work from regular photography is being able to construct a narrative through a series of images, rather than a focusing on a single photo.
“It’s the same as the difference between a reporter and a writer — just because you can do one doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to be good at the other. It’s a different set of skills required,” he said. “You’re not looking at one unique image, but for a body of work that tells a story.”
A bloody stretcher in front of Ali Babolo mosque in Bangui, Central African Republic, after clashes between the soldiers of the former-Seleka and the anti-Balaka militiamen. Denmark’s Emmy is five and has Down’s syndrome. Her parents were given a low risk of one in 800 after tests before she was born. ‘Emmy was just the number one,’ they say. Photo: Michael Zumstein
Both Suthep and Brown acknowledged the challenges facing aspiring photojournalists, but say opportunities still exist for those willing to adapt and innovate.
“As we are all aware, magazine sales are dwindling and online media is on the rise,” Suthep said. “But the other side is that more people are willing to share their personal stories, so there are new opportunities as well.
“The most important thing is that when you do a personal story, it must be meaningful, or there must be a lesson there for society to take from it. It’s not just about yourself.”
Brown said anyone aspiring to a career in the industry must be willing to move away from traditional media models and embrace new technologies and mediums to share their work.
“The truth is that it [the industry] has never been healthy,” he said. “It’s not so much about the photographers. The photographers have always been there. What has changed is the audience demographic. They’re just not engaging with the stories any more.
Jamnyu are women divers who harvest shells and other sea creatures without gear. They just put on suits and dive, up to 40 times per hour. Photo: Kim Hang-ku
“Actors, artists, anything where people are on their own financially and creatively has always been challenging, and it ain’t going to change … It’s not the best, not the fastest that survive. It’s the one that adapts.”
Suthep is confident Photojourn can help promote innovative new ideas and maintain Bangkok’s reputation as a centre for quality photojournalism into the future.
“Bangkok is kind of a hub for photojournalists,” he said. “But at the moment the community is not really very well connected.
“I think what we are doing here is taking the first step towards becoming a real photo exhibition. But this is the first one, and we don’t want to step too far at this stage. We just want to stick to one day and one style and test the perception of Thai people about this kind of thing.”
Brown added: “To have a community of photojournalists get together and discuss ideas is crucial in any community. And what Suthep is trying to do … is a great step forward.” n
‘Stories Through the Viewfinder’ will be held from 10am this Saturday, with the projection slideshow starting at 6.30pm. For more information or to register, contact photojourn@outlook.com or visit www.photojourn.net.
Bananalandia, an hour north of Maputo, has helped turn Mozambique into a banana exporter. The company employs 2,500 people and has built a school, a clinic, roads, and 35km of power lines. Photo: ROBIN HAMMOND
Road workers take a ride in Shenzhen, China, as the city and the afternoon sun struggle to be seen through the thick smog. In 2013, industrial China’s coastal strip experienced record levels of air pollution.Photo: James Whitlow Delano
One of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Medellin, Colombia, is known as Barrio Triste. This project is an effort to document the hope, despair and struggles of residents.Photo: Juan Aredondo
A large bull elephant sits with its legs chained in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. This 50-year-old beast was restrained because he had killed five mahouts during his lifetime.Photo: Patrick Brown
Chalit Saphaphak captured his father’s last moments as he fought oesophageal cancer. ‘Even knowing that the fight would end with defeat, there were a lot of stories along the battle path.’Photo: Chalit Saphaphak
Farida, 20, left, struggles with Tyhchtykbek who has forced her and a friend into the back of a car with the intention of kidnapping her and forcing her to marry him. She screams at him: ‘I am not going to marry you. Just leave me now.’ Farida has a boyfriend who she plans to marry.Photo: Noriko Hayashi
