My approach to journalism and photography
I was recently asked in a DM about my approach to journalism and photography.
There is considerable overlap between the two, for the simple reason that a news story without photographs just will not grab readers’ attention. A page full of text is perceived as ‘dry’ and if it’s minus any pictures, readers won’t engage in anyway near the same way as they will if there’s a picture splashed across the story.
I write features and news stories, often illustrated with my photographs, for newspapers and magazines but refuse to be a ‘repeater’ who just repeats the press office line. Once you do that you are no longer a journalist, but part of the PR machine. Some press officers react better than others to inconvenient questions. Some are adult and don’t take it personally, whereas others see any negativity directed towards the company, as a personal attack on them – which is always an odd attitude. They have a superiority complex where they believe that the press can be manipulated. The best press officers are those that have been around the block a few times and have real lived experience about what life is about. Invariably, they are aged 30 plus and haven’t lived their life in a PR bubble.
Some stories are grim, but pictures are always an essential part in helping the reader understand the issues being discussed. My aim of any assignment is to create the most powerful set of pictures a magazine has ever seen – the same as when I shoot marketing pictures for a company. For the latter I always fight against this bizarre trend of using models. I’ve shot campaign pictures for numerous train operators and always use real passengers. The problem with models is that they look like – well – models! The public isn’t stupid, they can spot fake passengers from a million miles away. Real passengers have aesthetic flaws (looking all the better for it) act naturally and, very importantly, are relatable. It reminds me of the time artist Terence Cuneo was commissioned to produce paintings for a tractor manufacturer. He produced a set of paintings showing the tractors battered and dirty as they went about their farming business. Initially, the tractor PR chap almost fainted, as he thought the paintings would show gleaming tractors, with smiling farmers – totally different from reality. Eventually, the company saw Cuneo’s point of view and his realistic paintings did wonders for sales.
I find it quite amusing when I see X photographer has won this or that award,when I look at the entry rues and it states that one has to pay to enter. Frankly, go down that road and it’s obvious you (the photographer) are the product and it diminishes the award. If a photojournalist wins an award where they haven’t bought a ‘lottery ticket’ to enter, they are a worthy winner – not involved in a pay to play competition.
I enjoy making candid pictures, as anyone who buys my books will know. I find non-news contrived pictures tacky, unoriginal and the default style of the unimaginative photographer. Such pictures may be technically good, but beyond that have little value.
Photography ‘rules’ are not something I’m a fan of. Photography is one of the most creative art forms known to man. Why would anyone strap themselves in a self imposed straight jacket? Summer is great for the creative railway photographer, for it is when passengers wear the most colourful clothes, which enables vibrant candid pictures to be made on and around stations. Come November, the clothes become black and brown – not great for those that enjoy colour. If you’re going to consult ‘rules’ before making a picture, the pictures you make will be uninspiring, bland and certainly not make an impact. There is no ‘right’ way to photograph a train – for example, one can make great pictures of the crew, even if locomotive is running tender first. Set yourself free from photography rules and your images will be so much better.
Social media is also important. I receive up to 20,000 visits a day and many emails, along with requests to talk about my books.
Chime Whistle Publishing railway books, including the best selling ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Train to the Midlands’ and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Train to London’. https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop