The second NUJ photographer’s conference on 18th May 2009 brought together about 200 photographers at the Institute of Education in London. A welcome from John Toner, the NUJ Freelance Organiser, was followed by two parallel sessions. In one room, George Chin and Antonio Olmos discussed video, and Kate Fox, Linda Royles and Pamela Morinière discussed copyright and IP.
In another session, Paul Hermann of Redeye explained that good photographs must both concern something worth saying and actually say it. Nick McGowan Lowe gave the low-down on how to make a photography website pay, right down to the value of jobs in pounds and pence. David Hoffman changed the tone with a thought-provoking talk on the changes in the stock photography business. While the days of earning big money from individual photos might be a thing of the past, the wealth of new agencies means that there are perhaps other ways of working with stock.
After the break, Kevin Cooper gave an overview of the dangers of a photographer’s life, with eye-watering anecdotes of perils and thoughtlessness during a career photographing in Northern Ireland. Capturing the sober mood of the meeting, he remarked that the biggest danger facing freelancers was, however, a lack of work. Penny Tweedie then told us how, when her career began back in the sixties, it was deemed inappropriate for a female photographer to work at night. She nevertheless went on to travel the world, witnessing extraordinary violence in Asia, but never losing sight of her morals and always with an eye for the awe inspiring and beautiful.
Following lunch and a browse in the Photography Matters competition exhibition, we heard about photography in public spaces. While talks on privacy, terrorism legislation and the short film by Jeff Moore and Paul Stewart were thought-provoking and useful, the drama of the afternoon came with Commander Robert Broadhurst of the London Met. While the assembled photographers felt that the primary job of the fourth estate was to act as an independent witness and commentator, Commander Broadhurst seemed to suggest that all photographers were potential troublemakers and should just jolly well do what they are told by the police! The Commander’s comments drew heated reactions from the audience, running the gamut from bemusement to shock, horror and anger.
After a break to mop the blood from the floor, the session was closed by John Toner and Jeremy Dear appealing for greater participation by all in the running of the NUJ. The best way we were told, is to go to your branch meetings.
A selection of photos from the day and further comment can be found on Peter Marshall’s blog, here.
© Conor Cahill 2009.