Press Review
5 websites
Paul Melcher
365 days, when you think about it, is not enough. In these days of constant international turmoil where every day brings hundreds of news event of primary importance, it is hard to keep up. It is getting harder even to view images of those who have a passion to visually report on those events.
Armed with the same thoughts, frustrated probably with the overabundance of illustrative photojournalism, the bland snapshots of wire services, some have taken to the internet to publish more in-depth visual stories. Called magazine, in honor of its print siblings, those website are more focused on delivering high quality photography, the kind less and less seen in traditional media. Here are a few:
1. Burn
Self describe as the evolving magazine for the emerging photographer, Burn magazine was founded and is curated by Magnum photographer, David Alan Harvey. Passionate about helping new and talented photographers, Harvey has taken upon himself , his own time and his own finances, to display the work of those who have yet to acquire a visual voice. Some might deserve it, some might not.
Although somewhat linked to the news, Burn magazine will publish whatever it sees as important to disclose, not only because of its subject matter but mostly for the quality of its storytelling.
You might not always agree with David Alan Harvey’s choice but you will certainly benefit from visiting this site on a regular basis.
2. Bag News Notes
Self described as a progressive site dedicated to visual politics and the analysis of news images, Bag News Notes if for those who love news photography but also love to talk, read or write about it. With regular contributions from Alan Chin, Nina Bergman, Chris Hondros and many others of the likes, you are guaranteed a high level of image quality.
Sure they are opinionated, but aren’t all photojournalists ? After all they see, here, smell much more than what their camera can carry and they should have something to say. BagNewsNotes is full of great images but also some thought provoking reflection on photography and how we consume it. It is a magazine about photography that will always leave you thinking beyond the image and its ever evolving role in our changing society. This should be required reading for any journalist.
3. Facing Change
Some photographers are frustrated by mainstream media’s incessant circus parade around the hot topic of the day, completely ignoring issues of equal or greater importance. They understand that there are more important issues than Lindsay Lohan dresses and have created a web magazine to prove it.
Self described as “a non-profit collective of dedicated photojournalists and writers coming together to explore America and to build a forum to chart its future”, Facing Change : Documenting America is a visual magazine that intends to alter the world around us via photography. With such talents as
David Burnett, Stanley Greene, Brenda Ann Kenneally, Andrew Lichtenstein, Carlos Javier Ortiz, Lucian Perkins, Anthony Suau on its founding member roster, they are certainly on the right track.
Far from commercial photojournalisms, the type that only seeks to surf on the latest trends, they do not hesitate to spend their personal time and resources on stories of greater depth and importance.
Closer to the real purpose of photojournalism, these concerned photographers have put out a great publication that allows them to pursue their passion without waiting on the traditional media to understand.
4. American Suburb X
3 years old American Suburb X magazine is not so much about photojournalism that it is about editorial photography; Self described as “an ever-growing archive and fiercely edited look at photography’s massively relevant past, dramatically shifting present and always unfolding future”.
While it’s “ mission is to provide and provoke, to educate and titillate those who are obsessed with photography and all of its beautiful moving parts”, it is a full grown up online magazine with features, interviews, notes, reviews.
It explores the current photography world with exposes executed by the most challenging photography artist of our time. While it seems to like to provoke extreme reaction from it’s readers, it does it with taste and intelligence. A motivating site
5. Social documentary
Social documentary.net takes a different approach to the online magazine. Sure, they are only interested in photo essays that relate to the human condition (that is a wide topic). A bit like the others, they want to be a site of information but also awareness and reflection. However, unlike other sites, it wants to help its readers.
For a nominal fee ( .99 a year per image), they will accept any submission. Of course, there is heavy curating and only the best gets published. The submission can be from photographer but also from NGO’s that had hired a photographer. The real twist is that, unlike others that work around a closed menbership club mentality, this is open to anyone , anywhere, who has talent and dedication. And it shows. The portfolios are simple yet commending. They are poignant and of equal interest as anything seen elsewhere. There might be a bit less intellectualism here and a stronger use of colors and light. Refreshing.
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