social reportage – Flower City Arts Center

The Sign Project

One night I received a text from my friend Jon, a homeless young man who lives in a tent in Rochester New York. Jon sent me a link to a project done by Rethink Homelessness, an initiative of the Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness. They asked homeless people to write down something about themselves they wanted others to know, and then were photographed holding the sign. Inspired by the images that gave people a voice, Jon suggested I take on the project which led me to introduce the idea to the students of my social reportage class at the Flower City Arts Center. While this session has been dedicated to documenting the Open Door Mission’s soon to open women and children’s shelter and the families that will be living there, the class incorporated what we now call, The Sign Project.

*A man of peace by Kristy Bianchi* @blackdiamondcreative

Starting out on the fieldwork all roads seemed to lead to St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in the South Wedge neighborhood of Rochester. There students immersed themselves in the lives of the patrons, enjoying dinner and conversation with some pretty cool characters. I once read the quote,

“How do you take pictures of somebody in a way that brings them to the table instead of putting them on the menu?” – Sharita Towne

I’ve since pondered that and with The Sign Project, I have seen it in action. Through this project the people we encountered had a voice. They were not just a subject in a photo, but instead they made a statement through their written words combined with the images created by the student photographers.

In May, Flower City Arts Center will be hosting an exhibition of images from The Sign Project celebrating the diverse men and women we worked with. This exhibit will be held at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality with more info to come…stay tuned!

Socially Engaged Photojournalism

The socially engaged photographer is the affected photographer, one who akin to activists, are:
So much so that they are affected to take action and raise awareness while attracting the public’s attention surrounding current social concerns.

null — Social Reportage Session III: Farmworkers in upstate New York harvest produce working long days exposed to extreme heat and pesticides. Arleen Thaler

It can allude to a humanly dire classification of photojournalism that commits to capturing images of those who are impoverished, marginalized, victimized or disadvantaged, while being immersive in nature.

Social Reportage Session III: Farmworkers in upstate New York take a break near the end of the harvest season. 52 Jamaican seasonal workers share a 12 unit encampment while away from their family for extended periods of time. Arleen Thaler

Social Reportage Session III: Farmworkers in upstate New York celebrate their last evening on the farm before leaving for their homeland of Jamaica in the morning to reunite with their family. Near the end of the evening the farmowner appears to thank them for their hard work, the send off was fraught with emotion while the workers shrunk back into the darkness away from their boss. Arleen Thaler

Social documentary in America began with photographers such as Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks capturing images of the depression and urban decay. The Farm Security Administration (FSA) hired these photographers to capture images of poor farmers, while the Information Division of FSA’s goal was to “Introduce America to Americans”

The same goal is the primary focus of the Social Reportage course I teach here at the Flower City Arts Center, to “Introduce Rochester to Rochesterians” Students of past social reportage classes have covered relevant topics to include migrant and seasonal farmworkers in upstate, NY, Rochester’s refugees and homelessness.

Portraits of residents of the Open Door Mission’s Samaritan House. Arleen Thaler

Over the next several months, students will be involved with capturing images of the Open Door Mission’s mission to help provide for and house women and children with a new women’s shelter. These images will be used to raise awareness of a much needed service to our homeless women.

I look forward to sharing our journey with you and it is my hope that the images coming forth will encourage you, inspire you, outrage you and elicit you to take action.

Listening while Capturing

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ~Stephen R. Covey

Sometimes in the excitement of capturing an image, we lose sight of the story that makes up the person by not being present.

One of the most important lessons I hope for participants of my photo field trips and social reportage classes to learn is one of being able to truly listen to their subject. Listening is a highly effective habit of the socially engaged photographer. Taking the time to not only listen but to understand the message helps to capture an image that is filled with emotion. This past Saturday, the Photo Field Trip Session II, put their listening skills into practice as we explored the southwest quadrant of Rochester, NY. Strolling along West Main Street, the group met several people who shared their stories with us as we enjoyed colorful conversations about, race, the community and politics. By listening to the members that make up a community, especially a community in distress, we can then create those conversations for change. Imagery combined with life stories can become the foundation for solutions.

When you listen, you not only hear the emotion in your subject, you see it in their expressions. The longer you spend time getting to know them, you become aware of those nuances that make a memorable photo.