{"id":1117,"date":"2011-11-07T23:02:44","date_gmt":"2011-11-08T06:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bezaires.com\/blog\/?p=1117"},"modified":"2012-03-11T11:15:38","modified_gmt":"2012-03-11T18:15:38","slug":"michele-sibiloni-on-photojournalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bezaires.com\/blog\/post-id\/1117","title":{"rendered":"Michele Sibiloni on Photojournalism"},"content":{"rendered":"\"\"<\/a>\n

On October 14, 2011, The New York Times front page highlighted a Michele Sibiloni<\/a> image captioned Economic Woes in a Ugandan Market<\/em>. Included was a reference to a Josh Kron story by on page A5 titled Discontent Simmers in a Market as Uganda’s Economy Staggers<\/em><\/a> that was accompanied by another of Michele’s pictures. The associated web slide show, Economic Malaise in Uganda,<\/em><\/a> includes both of these photographs along with seven additional related ones. This strong package impels one to ask, \u201cHow did he capture all of these stunning images?\u201d Fortunately, Michele graciously responded by my inquiry with many details that provide both illumination and inspiration.<\/p>\n

Michele gives Josh credit for initiating this story about the effect of Uganda’s economic malaise on the shopkeepers in downtown Kampala’s Kiseka market. He goes on to say that it is something every journalist\u2014whether working in \u201cphoto-video-text or whatever\u201d\u2014must know, just because they live there and talk to people all the time. So, while we might wonder about the development of these stunning images, he compares them to the everyday job of a journalist in the USA covering any running economic issue such as Occupy Wall Street.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Although Michele has known Josh for \u201csome time\u201d because they have been based in the same location, this was their first project together. He must have found it enjoyable and\/or fruitful, because he says, \u201cI hope it will happened soon again\u201d. Michele believes that it is important for photographers to work closely with writers because \u201cyou can share point of view and learn things\u201d. He maintains contact with a wide network of people in the region with whom to talk and develop story ideas, including local and international journalists, activists, and NGO workers. He notes that throughout East Africa it is especially important to know helpful people in various humanitarian organizations.<\/p>\n

Michele’s focus as he developed this package was the difficulty that ordinary people go through every day to make a living, with an emphasis on those who actually do hard work rather than just asking for money in the streets. He wanted to show people working proudly to support themselves and their families, and some urban landscapes to give an idea about the place. To do so, he decided to go downtown around markets and business areas in poor neighborhoods where most of the Ugandans live. As is his preference when working in the streets, he was alone when he took these pictures.<\/p>\n

With little additional planning, Michele spent several days walking and shooting around town. As he says, \u201cyou just have to go\u201d. Rather than trying to \u201cdo the work quickly\u201d, he spent time in downtown Kampala, talking with people and finding good spots with just the right light at the right time. He believes that it is not just how you do the assignment, but also how you \u201cput yourself into the situation, \u2026 stay loose, feeling good, feeling comfortable\u201d.<\/p>\n

Michele believes that the final package we see in the slide show reflects his vision, despite the fact that the editors chose to include only nine of the many pictures he submitted. He is philosophical about the fact that sometimes an image he loves is not published, noting that the editors \u201calso have their rules\u201d. He says that if he could go back, he would love to capture some more action shots that give additional power and evidence to his vision.<\/p>\n

Post-processing is minimal for Michele, consisting of some color and contrast correction, and \u201cput some grain with imagenomix\u201d. He notes that while heavier post-processing might make an image look sexy, it is not needed when the goal in reportage and documentary work is evidence<\/em><\/strong>. After that, transmission is simply a matter of uploading the results to an ftp site.<\/p>\n

Michele is an Italian who is currently based in Kampala, Uganda, and from there he covers neighboring parts of East Africa. He is careful to follow all of the specific visa rules as he travels to work in these areas. In order to obtain permission to shoot, he often finds it useful to identify himself as a journalist rather than photographer, and he notes the importance of developing a network of local journalists who can put him in touch with the right people.<\/p>\n

Some of Michele’s images, such as this one from the Washington Post<\/a> and this one from MSNBC’s PHOTOblog<\/a> reveal the danger to which journalists can be subjected in their work. Indeed, he had difficulty in Masaka, where a soldier pointed an AK at his leg and tried to take away his camera. Of course he resisted, noting that, \u201cI can’t work without a camera.\u201d He says that is it critical to to calculate the risk in the situation and avoid simply taking chances for no reason, as he sees some other journalists do. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that broken cameras are things that \u201cyou will go through\u201d. Once again, he states the importance of connecting with other journalists, so that he can feel good in the situation\u2014or know when to leave if he does not feel comfortable.<\/p>\n

Michele photographs news and features as a freelance stringer for Agence France Press. Although he wishes he always had a specific assignment ahead of time, that unfortunately is not the case. An artist at heart, Michele’s closing remark reminds us that \u201cthe most important thing is to follow your obsession\u201d.  He encourages us to find the kind of stories we like, and to shoot things that are not assigned and no one will publish. I am particularly inspired by his proclamation, \u201cPersonal images are the best\u201d.<\/p>\n

Thank you very much, Michele, for your prompt and candid responses to my inquiry.<\/p>\n

This paper was written by Dave Bezaire for an assignment in Columbus State Community College course Photojournalism 265 taught by Doral Chenoweth III.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Below is a copy of the email communications that underlie this assignment.<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 30, 2011 1:57 PM
To:<\/b> ‘michele sibiloni’
Cc:<\/b> ‘Doral Chenoweth’
Subject:<\/b> RE: Critical analysis paper<\/p>\n

Hello Michele,<\/p>\n

I wanted to \u201cclose the loop\u201d and thank you once again for your help with my class paper, Michele Sibiloni on Photojournalism<\/a>.<\/i> I\u2019m happy to report that you helped me earn an \u201cA\u201d on the project.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d also like to show off a bit by sharing the New Life Breakfast Ministry slideshow<\/a> that I submitted as the final project for the course. I enjoyed doing the project very much, and want to thank you once again for your inspiration along the way.<\/p>\n

Blessings and best in all,<\/p>\n

Dave<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Doral Chenoweth 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 09, 2011 9:34 AM
To:<\/b> Dave Bezaire
Cc:<\/b> michele sibiloni
Subject:<\/b> Re: Critical analysis paper<\/p>\n

Dave, <\/p>\n

I have received your critical analysis paper. I’m plowing through a bunch of emails right now, but I look forward to reading it carefully soon.<\/p>\n

Thanks for finding that photographer and writing about that particular picture. When I first saw that image on the cover of the NYT, I was struck by both the beauty of the image and the grittiness of the subjects’ conditions.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Doral<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Tuesday, November 08, 2011 2:47 PM
To:<\/b> ‘Doral Chenoweth’
Cc:<\/b> ‘michele sibiloni’
Subject:<\/b> Critical analysis paper<\/p>\n

To: Professor Doral Chenoweth III<\/p>\n

cc: Michele Sibiloni<\/p>\n

Hello Doral,<\/p>\n

I completed my critical analysis paper and uploaded it to my blog with the title Michele Sibiloni on Photojournalism<\/a><\/i>. This seems like a useful presentation since it contains hyperlinks to a dozen images and a newspaper story. Could you please tell me if this fulfills the requirements for the class, or if you would prefer that I submit a paper copy?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m copying Michele to once again say \u201cThank you\u201d. Your generous response to my inquiry made this paper possible, and is very much appreciated.<\/p>\n

Thanks,<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 02, 2011 10:23 PM
To:<\/b> ‘michele sibiloni’
Subject:<\/b> RE: About your work<\/p>\n

Wow!!! <\/p>\n

Thank you so much, Michele!!!<\/p>\n

This is in perfect time for me to finish my paper, and your responses are very illuminating. I must also say, that I find it very inspiring to hear you talk about your work. Thank you for the encouragement you give!<\/p>\n

My only other question is if you have an RSS feed or an email list that can alert interested people to your work as it is published? If so, I would appreciate the chance to receive ongoing notifications and links to your new images and portfolios.<\/p>\n

Thank you, again, for taking time from your busy schedule to talk with me!<\/p>\n

Dave<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> michele sibiloni 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 02, 2011 9:01 PM
To:<\/b> Dave Bezaire
Subject:<\/b> Re: About your work<\/p>\n

MY english is not top so if something is not clear, don t be shy !<\/p>\n

Best <\/p>\n

Michele.<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> michele sibiloni 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 02, 2011 9:00 PM
To:<\/b> Dave Bezaire
Subject:<\/b> Re: About your work<\/p>\n

Hi Dave,<\/p>\n

Sorry if i m late .<\/p>\n

This is a story that Josh found but is something that every journalist (photo-video- text or whatever ) knows, because we live there and we talked to the people all the time. <\/p>\n

So as a photographer is a kind of daily life story that everyone need to do or to have, like the economical crisis in the US is something that if you are a photographer and you live in America u have to do, even if is not assigned. <\/p>\n

I decided to work downtown around markets and other business areas in poor neighborhoods, were most of the Ugandans live.<\/p>\n

I was alone when i was working , i prefer especially if i have to work in the streets.<\/p>\n

was the first time that me and Josh we worked together and i hope it will happened soon again, anyway we know each other since some time because we are based in the same place.<\/p>\n

I often work with writers and i think is important, you can share point of view and learn things.<\/p>\n

The focus was on the difficulty that ordinary people go through everyday for make their leaving, hard work, so not on someone just ask money in the street but someone that that does hard work proudly to support himself and his family, and of course some urban landscapes to give an idea about the place.<\/p>\n

Even if i could go and do the work quickly, i spent quite  a bit of time in the streets of downtown Kampala walking around, talking with people, find good spots with the right light at the right time, is not just about the assignment is about how do u put yourself in situation, you have to stay loose, feeling good, feel comfortable.<\/p>\n

Maybe the final images were a bit different because i sent much more images and the final edit was an edit of 9-10 images, so it can happened that you love a an image that won t be published because editors have also their rules.<\/p>\n

I was walking and shooting around town for few days, you don t have to plan much to go to the market, you just have to go.<\/p>\n

I don t postprocess very much i just adjust colors and contrast very simply and put some grain with imagenomix.<\/p>\n

I hate when pictures have heavy postproduction because it can look sexy to your eye but is not what image need (especially in reportage and documentary), an image need EVIDENCE.<\/p>\n

Trasmission ? what u mean ? You just have to upload on an ftp that s all.<\/p>\n

If i could go back i would love to get some more action images, to give some more power and some more evidence.<\/p>\n

I don t have always assignment ahead of time, but i wish ! <\/p>\n

I’m based in Uganda, so most of the time i’m there or in East Africa, and if i m not there i m in Italy where i m from.<\/p>\n

In Uganda and in the region i’m stringing for Agence France Press and i do news and features for them as freelance.<\/p>\n

I know many people in the region like local and international journalist, activist, ngo’s workers and often happened that talking with each other you hear some story that can be interesting to develop.<\/p>\n

In Africa in particular is important to know different humanitarian organization they can be very helpful.<\/p>\n

About the risk, is important to if you planned a story to calculate the risk, many photographer take risk for no reason.<\/p>\n

In Masaka i knew that there was the opposition leader for a kind of protest and i knew that the police would not like that.<\/p>\n

I had some trouble there, the guy that u saw in the pic  (with beige camo uniform which are from the special forces), he tried to take my camera, and he pointed the AK on my leg … i didn t give the camera, because i can t work without a camera .. but sometimes happened that they break cameras and stuff, but as a journalist are things that you will go through.<\/p>\n

You have to feel good in the situation, if you don t like is better to leave  but it all about your personality and your experience, is important to be with other journalist more experienced than you if u are new.<\/p>\n

Visas there are specific requirements that u have to follow  , for access and permission is important to get in touch with local journalist, and maybe sometimes say that you are a journalist not a photographer.<\/p>\n

Is important to build a kind of network of journalist so if u want to somewhere that u never been  some of your friend will put u in touch with someone that can help u.<\/p>\n

The most important think is to follow your obsession and find out the kind of stories that you like, and shoot something even if is not assigned and if no one will publish it, personal images are the best.<\/p>\n

Hope to answered to your question, if i forgot something .. just tell me !<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, November 02, 2011 1:58 PM
To:<\/b> ‘Dave Bezaire’; ‘michele sibiloni’
Subject:<\/b> RE: About your work<\/p>\n

Hi Michele,<\/p>\n

I hate to bother, knowing you are busy, but it would be very helpful to my class project if you can send me a few answers to my questions. I\u2019m still hoping to hear from you in the next day or so.<\/p>\n

Thank you!!<\/p>\n

Dave<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Thursday, October 27, 2011 11:26 AM
To:<\/b> ‘michele sibiloni’
Subject:<\/b> RE: About your work<\/p>\n

Thanks so much for confirming receipt of my message. I wish you the best on the project that has you so busy now. I\u2019ll eagerly await your response when you have time.<\/p>\n

Thanks again,<\/p>\n

Dave<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> michele sibiloni 
Sent:<\/b> Thursday, October 27, 2011 11:24 AM
To:<\/b> Dave Bezaire
Subject:<\/b> Re: About your work<\/p>\n

Hey Dave,<\/p>\n

thanks for your email, i m bit busy now i ll answer you soon.<\/p>\n

Ciao<\/p>\n

M<\/p>\n

\n

From:<\/b> Dave Bezaire 
Sent:<\/b> Wednesday, October 26, 2011 10:44 PM
To:<\/b> ‘michele sibiloni’
Subject:<\/b> About your work<\/p>\n

Hello Michele Sibiloni,<\/p>\n

As a photojournalism student at Columbus State, I have been assigned a \u201ccritical analysis\u201d project. I have been very impressed by your wonderful images, and I would like to ask a few quick questions about your work for my paper.<\/p>\n

Your image\u2014\u201cEconomic Woes Fuel Discontent in a Ugandan Market\u201d\u2014on the front page of the New York Times on October 14 caught my attention. I also found a slide show of your related photos and Josh Kron’s article on web page https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/slideshow\/2011\/10\/14\/world\/africa\/14uganda.html<\/a>. <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Who came up with the idea for the story? Did you and Josh work the market together, or did you shoot on you own? Have you worked with him before? How frequently? Do you actively seek out writers with whom to work? Or are you typically given a writer when you receive an assignment?<\/li>\n
  2. What would you say was your focus when you went to shoot the market? How were the final images the same as or different than what you had visualized ahead of time?<\/li>\n
  3. How long did you work on this series of images? How much of the time was spent in planning? How much in the market shooting? How much on post processing and transmission?<\/li>\n
  4. When you look back at slide show now, do you see anything that you missed? Anything that you would do differently?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I also enjoyed your personal website at https:\/\/michelesibiloni.com\/<\/a>, and saw some of your other photos by searching for your name on Google. Your international travel makes me very envious!<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Do you travel in search of images upon which a story may be built, or do you always have an assignment ahead of time? How do you select your locations and topics? What are some of the criteria you use to decide which assignments to accept or turn down?<\/li>\n
    2. Some of your images have been taken in dangerous areas like the Ugandan police action in Masaka. How do you manage the personal risk to yourself? <\/li>\n
    3. How much time do you spend traveling? How much at home? Do you tend to establish a base and make many short trips from\/to there, or do you forge a path and rarely return the same way?<\/li>\n
    4. How do you deal with logistical requirements like visas and permissions?  <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Thank you in advance for your help! I need to complete my project by November 4, so I would greatly appreciate receiving your response by Wednesday, November 2.<\/p>\n

      Thanks, too, for your wonderful images!!<\/p>\n

      Dave Bezaire<\/p>\n

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