What groundbreaking images of ‘Africa’ can we expect this year from Visa Festival of Shanty Towns?
Written by duckrabbitIf the video running off the front page of the Visa website is anything to go by they are:
MADNESS and DESPAIR?
VIOLENCE and FEAR?
EXODUS or maybe just WALKING FOR THE BUS?
and BLACK AND WHITE STICK BENDING
I can’t wait and I’m really pleased to see that festival Director J F Leroy has taken on board the the complaints of middle class white people that it’s unfair that poor black people are given so much space at the festival. There are plenty of poor white people who live in shanty towns and they also need to be given a chance to have their lives turned around (and their voices heard) by being featured at Visa .
This photo also running off the front page is a good start:
POOR WHITE COUPLE BEING RAINED ON
(editors note, its possible not all these pictures were taken in Africa. The Visa website doesn’t seem to give captions to them)
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (5 Comments)
Previously I said that I thought that black and white images used to report trajic situations were photographers trying to make tidy images of messy situations… Having just looked at the web site of Alvaro Ybarra Zavala and others, I will go as far as saying that in my opinion these photographers are trying to make beautiful images of the most ugly situations. Karibu the age of the camera phone. Although the quality isn’t there yet,at least its honest.
‘Karibu the age of the camera phone. Although the quality isn’t there yet,at least its honest.’
Well said.
Where are the African photogs, Louis Majanja? I saw a great photo exhibit in Nairobi last year, all Kenyan, all way more insightful that this cliched yawnfest. GO NATIVE.
I’m saddened by the lack of uncontextualized images of grinning African (nationality unimportant) kids.
Brilliant post Duckrabbit, thanks.