Comments on: Dying in Africa http://blog.melchersystem.com/2009/09/24/dying-in-africa/ Another Photo Industry blog Tue, 22 May 2012 18:45:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: mattbr http://blog.melchersystem.com/2009/09/24/dying-in-africa/#comment-3996 mattbr Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:35:50 +0000 http://blog.melchersystem.com/2009/09/24/dying-in-africa/#comment-3996 Paul, you're getting the symptoms right, but I totally disagree with the diagnosis. The illness runs much, much deeper than just NGO's, and is linked to the extreme laziness of the field more than anything else. The colonialist attitude existed way before the current generation, and has been perpetuated for a whole set of reasons that are far removed from advertorial photography seeping into the editorial space. And yes, esteemed colleagues. What we're doing when MSF or the Red Cross don't pay us to photograph in a refugee camp is advertising, not journalism, no matter how much we think the product we're pushing is respectable and saves lives. As such, it has absolutely no place in the editorial section of an information source. Paul, you’re getting the symptoms right, but I totally disagree with the diagnosis. The illness runs much, much deeper than just NGO’s, and is linked to the extreme laziness of the field more than anything else. The colonialist attitude existed way before the current generation, and has been perpetuated for a whole set of reasons that are far removed from advertorial photography seeping into the editorial space. And yes, esteemed colleagues. What we’re doing when MSF or the Red Cross don’t pay us to photograph in a refugee camp is advertising, not journalism, no matter how much we think the product we’re pushing is respectable and saves lives. As such, it has absolutely no place in the editorial section of an information source.

]]> By: Flemishdreams http://blog.melchersystem.com/2009/09/24/dying-in-africa/#comment-3994 Flemishdreams Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:46:02 +0000 http://blog.melchersystem.com/2009/09/24/dying-in-africa/#comment-3994 This is not about Africa but about the Southern Philippines, officially a war- and poverty stricken area. With 35% of the population below the poverty line, and in some areas 65% (2$ per day per family) one could expect corpses laying all over the street. That isn't the case at all. People in general are fat and thriving, and walk around with fancy cellphones (a must-have) a Westerner can't afford. The secret, in all emerging economies, is that the real trade and business is done under the radar of the Government statistics hunters. In the giant Wet Market building of Cagayan, fish, rice, fruits, pork traders work and do business all day and even the expensive food departments of Malls buy there. Nothing is registered: no income tax, no sales tax, no number collectors. NGO's (50% overhead costs) in their fancy super-aircooled 4WD's roam the streets for poverty and please their donors-market back home (and ensure their survival) and can't find any. You'll have to pay some actors to get the shots that you "need". This is not about Africa but about the Southern Philippines, officially a war- and poverty stricken area. With 35% of the population below the poverty line, and in some areas 65% (2$ per day per family) one could expect corpses laying all over the street.

That isn’t the case at all. People in general are fat and thriving, and walk around with fancy cellphones (a must-have) a Westerner can’t afford. The secret, in all emerging economies, is that the real trade and business is done under the radar of the Government statistics hunters.

In the giant Wet Market building of Cagayan, fish, rice, fruits, pork traders work and do business all day and even the expensive food departments of Malls buy there. Nothing is registered: no income tax, no sales tax, no number collectors.

NGO’s (50% overhead costs) in their fancy super-aircooled 4WD’s roam the streets for poverty and please their donors-market back home (and ensure their survival) and can’t find any. You’ll have to pay some actors to get the shots that you “need”.

]]>