Concerned Photography – The Human Condition

“I wanted people to be aware of the crass consumerism of the American culture, but young people are not taught to have social concerns. The emphasis is on being financially successful. Plus there is too much to do, and people can’t sort it out. Look in the Sunday paper, and there are a zillion things to go do. Why be socially concerned when you can go out and have fun?” – Bill Owens

Dream – © John Neel

Cornel Capa coined the term “Concerned Photography” with respect to Social Documentary as a way to describe a type of photographic practice whereby humanitarian consideration was the primary theme. Concerned photographers are those who have dedicated their efforts to producing images, which are meant to educate and change the world.

“I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event but an indictment of war – the brutal corrupting viciousness of its doing to the minds and bodies of men; and that my photographs might be a powerful emotional catalyst to the reasoning which would help this vile and criminal stupidity from beginning again.” W Eugene Smith

While most people associate the concept of concerned photography with photojournalism, there are many other types of image-makers who are also producing works, which are considered concerned imagery. Street photographers generally fall into a category of social documentarians. Fine art photographers are also concerned about the world in which we live. There are those who concentrate their efforts on the social injustices of race and gender. Others pursue culture, power and politics.

For the most part, these image-makers are interested in the relationships of people in their environments. Sometimes called the social landscape photographers, social documentary photographers are interested in the human interface with the modern world.

In today’s world, the concept of concern probably has a much wider definition in that there are issues that go beyond the plight of individual groups, war and other types of social interaction.

Today, we face potentially serious political and environmental consequences, which can have an overwhelming impact on the future of humanity and to all living things.

Besides the issues of those people who live in poverty, are victims of war, who endure Inhumane conditions and human suffering, many photographers are extremely concerned with the probability of nuclear war. They are also disturbed by the consequences of radiation through nuclear power plants such as what happened with the recent disasters of Chernobyl and Fukushima.

There are those who are interested in revealing the human induced devastation of the natural environment through wasted resources, over consumption and greed. They are interested in revealing truth. In that sense, their images are contrary to the status quo.

There are those who look at our lives for clues to what and why we do what we do. They are concerned for the future of the planet and for the children who will inherit our mess, our pollution, our recklessness, our apathy, ignorance and indifference.

Some of us are watching.

“My camera, my intentions stopped no man from falling. Nor did they aid him after he had fallen. It could be said that photographs be damned for they bind no wounds. Yet, I reasoned, if my photographs could cause compassionate horror within the viewer, they might also prod the conscience of that viewer into taking action.” W.Eugene Smith

“…photographs open doors into the past but they also allow a look into the future.” –Sally Mann

“If a documentary photograph is to have any life in it, it’s very important that it exhibit certain characteristics. The photograph should, first of all, be about people. Nothing is more fascinating than the human face and the human condition.”- Bill Owens

“My camera, my intentions stopped no man from falling. Nor did they aid him after he had fallen. It could be said that photographs be damned for they bind no wounds. Yet, I reasoned, if my photographs could cause compassionate horror within the viewer, they might also prod the conscience of that viewer into taking action.” W. Eugene Smith

Here are a few of the many websites that show and discuss Concerned Photography:

• The Art Institute of Chicago: Exhibitions: The Concerned Photographer
• Has concerned photography a future? Photojournalism ...
• Concerned Photography | Featured Artist |FStop
• Environmentally Concerned Photography | MICA
• Atomic Photographers Guild
• W. Eugene Smith Magnum Photos

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