The democratising force of mobile
Mobile photography has been heralded as the new point of entry for photography. Here in the UK, some of our most respected photography institutions (eg The British Journal of Photography, The Photographers’ Gallery, etc) have embraced mobile as a fresh new genre that is attracting new talent to photography. I’ve said more than once that I reckon the Photographic Canon should be grateful so many more people are now doing photography thanks to mobile. And I think many of tomorrow’s Annie Leibovitzes and David Baileys will have started out with mobiles. And since more people are doing photography, standards will be higher too.
When we talk about the democratising force of mobile, we’re usually thinking about kids in baseball caps who are now trying out photography when they wouldn’t have 10 years ago. But here’s an initiative that stretches the reach of photography even further, putting cameras and photography skills in the hands in people who aren’t wearing baseball caps, who because of their marginalisation in society would be unlikely to pick a camera. It’s a project called Heart of a Woman and its aim is to empower women on the margins of South African society to take photos with mobile devices. Not only might they be able to sell their own photos, but the project will do for them exactly what mobile photography did for me, and for many others - give them a new and exciting means of creative personal expression.
Wasn’t it great for us when we discovered mobile photography? Well, you can help Heart of a Woman allow many more people experience that same buzz. You can make it happen in many ways, by doing your own blog, by tweeting, by donating your old iphone and, of course, putting your hand in your pocket. If you really believe in the democratising power of this new photographic genre, put your money (or efforts) where your mobile is.
Not just for kids in baseball caps
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