Photojournalism Now: Friday Round Up – 16 October 2020

This week on Photojournalism Now: Friday Round Up – Glaswegian street photographer Brian Anderson’s new book and some of the Nikon-Walkley Photojournalism winners are announced. Plus a reminder that the Australian Photography Awards close for entries on 26 October. I’m thrilled to be one of the judges for the Documentary category. Get your entries in!

Also, the current issue of Artlink features an essay by Alison Stieven-Taylor “The visual journalist as a social entrepreneur” with work by Robin Hammond and Renée C. Byer. You can read the story here.

Robin Hammond, Kano, Nigeria, 2019: The Sheikh Mal, 2019, digital photograph. © Robin Hammond for Human Rights Watch. “Mamman Mai Mari Qur’anic Islamic and Rehabilitation Centre Durayi Kano City where men, and boys as young as ten years old, are shackled for perceived or actual drug addiction, for committing or being accused of minor offenses, and for mental health issues.”

If you haven’t done so already, please watch our new video interview series Photojournalism Now: In Conversation – subscribe to the channel by clicking on the red A. There are interviews with Robin Hammond, Renée C. Byer, Sean Gallagher and Lisette Poole.

Book:

Eye Belong to Glasgow – Brian Anderson

In his latest book, Eye Belong to Glasgow 1988 to 2018, Glaswegian photojournalist and street photographer Brian Anderson shares pictures taken in his hometown over 30 years.

These gritty black and white images provide an intimate insight into this “magical city” which Anderson muses is Scotland’s New York. These pictures expose the underbelly of the city, many images taken in the wee hours of the morning, Anderson hanging in cafes and bars, riding the subway and walking the streets, camera in hand, looking for a picture.

“My style of photography (can be) in people’s faces capturing the action, emotion, pain, whatever,” says Anderson who prefers to shoot in black and white so there are “no colour distractions.”

While many pictures reflect his up close approach, the book also features pictures that are quiet and redolent of a slower and more innocent way of life. Nevertheless, Eye Belong to Glasgow 1988 to 2018 is, as Anderson suggests, “quite a dark book” that shows Glasgow as it is. There is no sugar-coating and that is one of the aspects that makes the book so intriguing.

Anderson’s 30-year obsession in documenting his hometown has resulted in a fascinating and intimate portrait of Glasgow. Anderson’s collection of images may have been taken randomly as moments presented themselves but combined they create a rich history of a complex city told by an insider. You can buy a copy here.

2020 Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Photojournalism – Winners

Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year Winner – Christopher Hopkins

Christopher Hopkins was awarded for his picture, “I Want to Hold her Hand”. Hopkins says, “Robyn Becker (pictured above) was in the final stages of breast and gastric cancer at home with her daughter Alex in a Melbourne under lockdown. Having been advised that Robyn did not have much time left, her sister Jennifer travelled from California to be with her, but was required to spend two weeks in hotel isolation. Jennifer was given special leave to visit Robyn, but only for an hour at a time. ‘I want to be with her, I want to talk to her, I want to hold her hand, comfort her and hug her,’ Jennifer said. Robyn would pass away several weeks later.”