With four issues of Offline Journal now published since its launch in October 2018, I thought it might interest people to learn the story of each cover image: the where, when, what and why of each photograph described, when possible, by the photographer. In this new ‘Covered’ series - available here on the Newsletter - I’ve asked photographers to put themselves through the torture of recording their cover stories. To kick things off, Listen to Rob Law’s story behind his Offline Journal issue #004 cover in the audio clip at the top of this page.
Photography Online - lots of inspiration!
I had hoped to get this Newsletter out last weekend but distractions abound - even in lockdown it seems!
The ongoing Covid-19 lockdown here in Wales and around the world has stimulated creative ways for many to stay engaged with photography. Many thousands of enthusiasts and professionals alike are finding new and some not-so-new routes to create and share projects indoors and also connect with others to learn more about photography through online talks and group video discussions.
It’s interesting to note how some photography institutions and galleries currently closed in the Covid-19 crisis have been compelled to adapt their normal marketing and communication efforts. It will be interesting to see if and how these positive activities - appreciated by the seemingly vast numbers engaging with them - might continue when some form of normality returns. Wales should also embrace this opportunity to share its own talent with the wider photography world going forward.
I thought I’d share a few that interested me and had me engaged…
Photography from Isolation to Communication - ICP
Based in New York, The International Centre of Photography (ICP) ran a series titled ‘Photography from Isolation to Communication’ with David Campany - the respected photography writer and curator.
Costing $35 in total, his three sessions - delivered via Zoom (from what appeared to be his kitchen table!) - ran over consecutive evenings 15-17 April with roughly 300 participants watching and posting questions:
Session 1. Collaboration in Isolation
Session 2. Photobook Editing
Session 3. The Photographer-Writer
Although ended, you can read the outline topics covered by Campany on the event page here.
I’m sure we’ll see more of these from ICP: $35 x 300 = $10,500.00 (from a kitchen table) - but well worth it when you have a quality speaker!
Keep an eye on their website.
Mack Live
Specialist UK Photobook publisher Mack Books were very quick to react to the lockdown and have been hosting a new ‘Mack Live’ series of videos since late March with photographers and curators discussing photobooks. The recent ‘Alec Soth Bookshelf Tour’ video is a fascinating insight on this Magnum photographer as photobook collector: his diverse taste in photography and how and where it’s published in book form. One of my favourite parts has him showing a strange, run of the mill and mass-produced American cookery book titled ‘White Trash Cooking’ at 25:12 on the video - then revealing pseudo-William Eggleston photography included in the centre pages.
You can watch the Alec Soth video and others in the ongoing series at https://mackbooks.co.uk/pages/live
Magnum Quarantine Conversations
Creative thinking is emerging from Magnum Photos in the form of pairing up its member photographers by drawing two names from a hat and having them discuss their work and approach in online video conversations. These are really quite inspiring - particularly when you consider the calibre and experience of the individuals taking part. Two of the series had me rewinding and relistening to parts of the respective discussions: Richard Kalvar & Jérôme Sessini discussing conflict photography, fear, and invulnerability; and Lua Ribeira & Susan Meiselas exploring collaboration, intuition, the importance of rich archives and how photographing revolution helped Susan understand the structures of power.
I really hope Magnum continue with this series of random pairings for very unique conversations. You can watch them now at www.magnumphotos.com/theme/quarantine-conversations
David Hurn
On the subject of Magnum photographers, Wales’ own David Hurn continues to demonstrate a seemingly unbounded enthusiasm for experimentation and making photographs despite his Covid-19 confinement. As the screenshot above (shown here with permission) demonstrates, he has set himself a brief to photograph his cottage as though working for an Estate Agent! Sounds easy but actually very challenging! If you don’t follow his Instagram feed (his only online presence away from the Magnum website) his weekly posts are worth browsing through as they form a visual journal on photography, life and memories.
David’s text in the above post also has a complimentary mention for Offline Journal and the new Valleys book by Paul Cabuts coming in the next few weeks - read his Instagram post here.
Ffoton Livestream
Also in Wales, Ffoton has started experimenting with livestreaming these last few weeks with a new series of live conversations with photographers - each lasting approximately 30 minutes with questions from the online audience enabled via live chat. The first two talks were photographers who’ve had their work featured on Offline Journal covers - Matt Eynon on issue #002 and Nick Wynne on issue #003 - and the latest conversation with Rhodri Jones (based in Bologna, Italy) is well worth watching on the Ffoton YouTube channel.
Issue #005 of Offline Journal now underway
With the latest issue of Offline Journal now in the hands of subscribers and many others who have purchased a copy online, work has now started on issue #005 to be published in October. To help realise some very unique articles I’m delighted to welcome Ellie Hopkins as co-editor of issue #005. Many will be aware that Ellie has been a contributing writer in the first four issues and I’m looking forward to having her creative input help mould the next one.
Subscription - supporting Offline in uncertain times
It has been interesting to experience first-hand how the seemingly predictable process of printing and distributing a small printed publication can be knocked sideways through the disruption caused by a public health emergency. Printers can print, but only if their paper and ink suppliers can make deliveries and their own presses be manned. As things turned out, Offline Journal was printed with just over a week’s delay - so no big deal really.
The most frustrating but uncontrolable impact on the latest issue is the loss of physical outlets (six of which had been secured for issue #004 and were prepared to take #005) but are currently closed due to social distancing measures. Had they been open as normal, this latest issue might have sold all 150 copies.
Modern technology has transformed both photography and publishing. The benefits of digital assets, fast file transfers over broadband and digital printing allow flexibility in types and quantities of materials printed - such as my own self-imposed print run of 150 copies of Offline Journal’s first four issues. I considered this a reasonably low target that might see all copies sold in the six month period between issues and, as a result, the Journal would cover its own production, print and associated costs.
Offline Journal would not exist without the enthusiastic support of talented contributors - the photographers and writers who have worked with me on the Journal in these early days and share a desire to develop a publication dedicated to photography in and from Wales. These wonderful people have donated their talents and enthusiasm thus far in exchange for free copies of the Journal or beer (a couple of tough-nuts have haggled for both). Going forward, I’d like to offer contributors a small recompense for inclusion of their images and writing but that can only happen if Offline Journal increases its print run and gains more subscribers, with particular emphasis on the latter.
If you have renewed your subscription for the next two issues - I thank you sincerely.
If you have been supporting Offline through purchasing single issues up until now, my thanks again and I’d ask you to now consider also receiving the special printed supplements that accompany subscriber issues. I’ve had overwhelmingly positive comments on both the Offline Essays and the Indie exhibition posters that accompanied Ron McCormick’s ‘How Green was my Valley’ and David Hurn’s ‘Ynyshir: 25 Mile Radius’ exhibitions (the limited edition ‘Ynyshir’ poster will accompany issue #005 for subscribers in October).
You can support Offline Journal’s future issues in these uncertain times by subscribing via the link below. My thanks in advance!
Brian
offlinejournal.bigcartel.com
Newsletter © Brian Carroll 2020
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#8 - Photography Online