Jane Pang: Participant vs. Professional Photography
October 26, 2011
In a unique class, Visual Communication and Social Change, 4th-year students explore and contrast the images of professional and “participant” photographers; try to discern the impact of various forms of visual media on its target audiences; and read authors who promote participant-photography and those who are critical of it, as they attempt to answer questions such as, “Do media professionals distort the stories of the poor and dispossessed? Can participant-photography make a meaningful impact given the amateur photographer’s lack of training and experience?” Read their initial analyses and join the conversation.
Participant vs. Professional Photography by Jane Pang
In recent years, a number of debates have argued against the benefits and effectiveness of participatory photography. In “Photography as a Charitable Weapon: Poor Kids and Self-Representation,” Julia Ballerini expresses her doubts about the efficacy of participatory photography and argues that this field of photography tends to “reinforce the status quo rather than question it” (169). She also states that participatory photography has appeared to serve donors more than impoverished children (Ballerini 162).
Although there are many critiques about participatory photography, I disagree with Ballerini and view professional photography and participatory photography as equally important. The two different approaches present significantly different insights. People should not focus only on the outcome of participatory photography; its importance as a two-way learning process should be acknowledged. Participatory photography is not only a platform for the disadvantaged to narrate their own stories but also allows the viewers to gain first-person insight into the lives and living conditions of the poor, and that is a viewpoint that outsiders such as professional photographers may not be able to offer. Participatory photography also depicts reality from a genuine and comprehensive perspective, while many professional photographers tend to focus solely on the negative side of the underprivileged to get the attention of viewers.
Although participatory photography reflects some of the downside of professional photography, demand for professional photography still exists in today’s society in many fields, such as journalism and advertising. Also, we would not be able to expand our horizons and gain deeper knowledge of new things without professional photography. Therefore, both professional and participatory photography have advantages and disadvantages, viewers should keep their minds and eyes open and not underestimate the power of photography, an art form that can widen our perspective and encourage us to view the world from different angles.
Written by Admin · Filed Under For Students
I agreed with your view point that both participatory photography and professional photography are equally important. Some people might think that participatory photography has no importance at all. Participatory photography serves the purpose of helping grass root citizens. Some people may turn a blink eye to it. In my opinion, there are three factors to determine whether a person will be affected by participatory photography. First of all, narcissistic people are less likely to pay attention to participatory photography since they are self-centered, practice utilitarianism, and mainly focus on themselves. Second, Machiavellian type of people will be unlikely to be affected by participatory photography since they are extremely concern about personal growth. They place their personal growth over other people’s interest and have a strong desire to gain more and more. And finally, people from individualistic culture are less likely to care about others as they consider every person as an individual.
Participant photography definitely allows for photographs and viewpoints that professional photographers may not be able to capture. This is due to the fact that professional photographers are seen as outsiders to the communities they are photographing. Participant photographers are able to use their “insider” status in communities to capture situations through a camera lens that others might not be able to capture. Participant photographers are able to depict a reality that professional photographers can not. However, while participant photography is able to depict realities professional photography can not, there is still a need for professional photography. Professional photography is used in journalism, advertising, and news and provides knowledge about situation to audiences. Both participant and professional photography are useful in today’s society.