REPORTAGE AGENCIES

I am using here few pictures shot by chance in San Sebastian in 2007 during the film festival. I was there to follow the festival with friend film maker Tom Nerling. Lovely scenery, beautiful architecture, exquisite pinchos (local tapas), films obviously and walks around the bay. It happened that week-end that few weddings were taking place too. Well, being a photographer and doing weddings on a regular basis, you cannot actually be insensitive to the difference of approach in other countries. Weddings are and will be eternally a source of inspiration and knowledge about different societies, religions, stories and human nature in general. There are just few shots, but they actually express more closely what reportage is. Meaning being an observer and collector of clues.
In this new post I just would like to focus on few links that could be very helpful. Firstly, I would encourage you to go to Wikipedia and type key words such as reportage or origin of wedding photography, etc... I would just transcript here some definitions found. REPORTAGE Collection of written, recorded or photographic materials from an event (basic) RELATED TO PHOTOGRAPHY Term of an eye-witness genre of journalism. This style is often characterized by travel and careful observation PHOTOJOURNALISM A particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a story. It is distinguished from other branches of Photography by the qualities of Timeliness the images have meaning in the context of a recently published records of events Objectivity the situation implied by the images is as fair and accurate representation of the events they depict in both content and tone Narrative the images combine with other news elements to make facts relatable to the viewer or reader on a cultural event.
First major agency that really created this genre on a global sense is Magnum www.magnumphotos.com - All the photographers are top class and have collected tons of images for the last half Century. We all know pictures from them, they are all part of our contemporary visual memory. Magnum is the reference in reportage photography. They are quite a few other agencies to mention but I would only refer to few ones. Panos pictures www.panos.co.uk - We could also mention Agence Vu www.agencevu.com - And two collectives, new form of agency due to the last 10 years of economical struggle in the industry. Oeil Public www.oeilpublic.com and Tendance Floue www.tendancefloue.net

Visit the websites, images, videos, etc...it is very interesting and endless.
I hope you will enjoy and see Photography in a new way.

A TRICKY PORTRAIT SESSION

Mr and Mme Meze / 1995

A couple of months after my first non-official wedding my step-mum introduced me to a woman who wanted portraits of her parents: they were quite old. Like any amateur photographer I would use my closest relatives for subject. And many times I would ask my grand-parents to pose for me. They were patient, kind and beautiful. My step-mum knew of my passion for people and also knew that I had to practice as soon as possible with strangers. This task was an other real opportunity to shape my approach and apply my few skills. Nevertheless this project was not easy to handle. I was not very sure if I had the courage to face strangers at the end of their lives. This experience taught me how to walk on the rope.
Today I can say that taking couple' shots is easy compare to such situation. People are younger, about to get married, a whole life ahead of them. It is a light weight scenario compare to that first portrait session. So, I arrange to meet them at their house one afternoon. It was Summer. They knew of me I guess, and were ready for the session. I choose a TMX 400 Kodak after realizing I used a difficult 100 for the previous wedding. Iford delta had a fine grain but short tolerance of greys, and used with a flash details were lost. I decided to work with a safer flexible 400 film and natural light. I also bought recently a 24mm Nikon 2.8 and wanted to try it. Young photographers always want a wide angle lens, it's kind of fun or cool !
Anyway, I introduce myself and understand instinctively that I have to follow their slow pace in order to gain their confidence. They are not very talkative and cannot move easily around. I start with very simple poses in trying to frame their presence with the interior and symbols (clock). I quickly realize how important it is to take time with people. To work fast and giving too many directions would have disturbed them. I had to adapt to be accepted, to engage a dialogue. I can also see they are not at ease to pose together. Nowadays people are not so afraid to hold hands and kiss. For older generations it was something not to be shown publicly. And therefore the proximity of two of their fingers was something quite remarkable and emotional at the same time. I suddenly realize how shy they were. I decided to talk about everything and nothing to make them forget about the photo session.
To create a zone of comfort is the photographer's duty if he/she wishes to capture truly his/her subject. The technical side is one thing, the other half is about communication. If there is no interaction, there is no results. I keep on working indoors with different props that remind them of their professions. My first poses always put my subjects on different level, one standing while the other is seated. I vary this combination and finally ask them to seat next to each other. I am always using the natural light. It suits more their generation, their life style, their charm. They have a genuine beauty to be pealed delicately. Then I decide to take them outside. The sky is overcast, it's warm. That's perfect for them. They will be able to open their eyes normally and they won't get a cold. Those details might sound odd for many but that is very important. Your subject has to feel relax. Weather conditions can affect dramatically the experience. Always pay attention to your model, like of your child. If they are happy and feel confident you increase your chances. It's natural and simple; it's simply human.
As we were outside we had a bit of fun with old fashioned tools. I had been taking photographs for almost 2 hours and felt that we had to finish now. They were probably tired, I didn't want to bother them anymore. I had to go. It had been an emotional experience for both parts. But before leaving I asked them to seat next to each other in the garden and talk, just talk...under the tree. I was fading away from their vision. I would take pictures from the back like the end of a chapter. Like a backward traveling from a Fellini movie. I thanked them for their time and generosity. I was relieved and happy. I hoped I captured the right tone, their personality and bound.

To photograph in a reportage way is about creating a dialogue between two bodies in creating a common third way. It is impossible to do reportage without compassion.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT

I studied in Paris at l'Ecole des Gobelins, Paris, after passing my BA of Theory and Practice of Art at la Sorbonne Paris1. I was a bit fed up with teenagers aiming to be artists, they would put more effort in trying hard to look arty than actually work hard, and the teachers would encourage us in being nice proper applicants to the Art world with the whole kit of answers and tricks. I was quite disillusioned and wanted to do something a bit more practical. It was too much talking and not enough action. I had two options: pass the exam in Arles school in south of France or stay in Paris at the Gobelins. I thought going away would have been a good experience but unfortunately Arles was once again very conceptual and art base, I wanted to learn some crafts. I would have plenty of time later for concepts. I therefore passed the exam in Paris.

Les Gobelins was a good platform as it is founded partly by private investors and it is part of the Chamber of Commerce of Paris. I knew a lot of people from all around the World would pass the exam. I also knew that my chances were thin as maths and physics were my very very weak points, but I had passion and some knowledge for Photography. And somehow when it came to optical problems I could actually understand quite naturally what it was all about. Anyway, still, the school would only take 15 students in the studio department, and 15 students in the darkroom. Well, I had nothing to loose, I went there with my friend Eric from the University, tried my best, and straight after went to the Dynamo Festival in Holland to chill out. 2 or 3 weeks later, we received the results and we were both accepted. Hourrah !

That was in 1995 the first year or the two years program was dedicated to black and white. We had every month one particular subject to photograph, and many others to develop and process in the darkroom at the same time. Eventually near summer we were asked to do a wedding. You would have seen most faces - boring! I didn't really care. For me it was instinctively Reportage and meeting people. The only trouble was that I didn't know anyone who was getting married. Never mind, I took my FM2, a 50mm, a 35mm, a 285 Vivitar flash, some rolls Ilford 100 delta and headed to the town hall in search of a wedding. My first attempt was a lucky one. People were gathering and waiting for the bride. I was very excited but also very anxious. I thought I couldn't really make it just like that. I was an outsider, unknown from the audience. I spotted the official photographer and asked him if he would let me join him in his commission. He was unsurprisingly quite suspicious. But behind his grumbling attitude he accepted and asked me to remain discreet. He would tell them I was his assistant if they were to ask. I therefore photographed as an official and would gather amongst families with fear and joy at the same time. I shot pictures with my flash next to the registrar facing them, while signing, same at the church. I actually still don't know how people did let me to do it without complaining or asking.

At one point during the religious ceremony the bride looks at me and you can tell that she is wondering who on earth is this guy at my wedding ?! I felt strongly that gaze but kept on shooting throughout the service. I had to do it to build strength and confidence. After the church, I felt I had to leave. Right then the official photographer grabbed me and asked me to swear that I would not sell them any of my pictures. That was quite funny and touching from this old man. I didn't know if I actually managed to get some decent shots. Also, I had to use my mum's flash which I barely knew how to use. Just those two hours experience drained me out. My adrenalin was fading away, I felt like empty. I really though at that time I just lived something intense as an observer, challenger and recorder, but I didn't really envisage I would do that years later for a living. It was too much to cope with. What I really remember is the generosity from that photographer who helped me with my school's assignment without even knowing my name. I would also always remember and thank immensely this couple for letting a stranger photographing their wedding. If you are by any chance reading those lines, do not hesitate to contact me to get some prints. I would be a tremendous pleasure to give you what belongs to you. Without you my life may have been quite different. My deepest gratitude.

WELCOME FINALLY

Here I am using the credit crunch spare time to seat down more often than usual to write down my thoughts about my passion that is reportage photography, and applied to the wedding industry. I have been working in that field for 10 years now and have done quite a few ones...It is quite funny how genres, trends and economical moves can shift interests. I am particularly enjoying the present time being able to use the new technologies to expose my doubts and propose my expertise to a large audience. So, it is with a great pleasure that I am welcoming you to read, comment and dialogue. I have just finished working on my first book applied to the same topic and welcome you all to have a look on it. It is called " the Art in Wedding Reportage" written by davidB/2exposures. I have used Blurb.com and I must say it has been quite a exciting project to work on. I took me more than two months to gather visuals, retouch them, select them, write the texts, think layout, and finally working it online. I am very happy with it and I hope it will help people to learn quite a few things about the profession, wedding photography and reportage. I also know that most people will not obviously buy it, and it is the reason why I finally decided to create this blog in a more relaxed way where I can treat one idea after the other without rushing. I will try to highlight each time a particular point and demonstrate it with images. This blog is friendly and do wish to promote suppliers as an alternative to online wedding directories. It is a forum and sharing experience which I hope you will join and enjoy.

The Art in Wed...

II exposures

By davidB/2exposures

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