Today, we'll explore a photojournalist's experience capturing life in Myanmar for the New York Times in 2011.
Coming to you from Justin Mott, this insightful video offers a look at his assignment in Myanmar. The task was to capture the essence of the country for the Travel section of the New York Times, a challenging feat given the restrictions on travel at the time. Mott navigated these obstacles by working with a local fixer and translator, which allowed him to experience the country from a traveler's perspective without the constraints of a large group. This approach enabled him to capture more authentic and spontaneous moments, a crucial aspect for creating compelling travel photography.
Mott's video discusses the technical aspects of his work, including the equipment he used and the settings he preferred. Shooting with a Canon 5D Mark I and a minimal gear setup, he emphasizes the importance of being discreet and adaptable in challenging environments. His images from Yangon, Inle Lake, and various temples showcase his ability to blend into his surroundings and capture candid moments. This is particularly relevant for you if you aim to document everyday life and cultural nuances in your photography.
The video also highlights some of the struggles Mott faced, such as dealing with harsh light and managing the expectations of his editors. He reflects on the importance of patience and persistence, often waiting for the right moment to capture a shot. This insight is crucial for understanding the dedication required to produce high-quality travel photography. Mott's experiences underscore the need to balance technical skill with a deep understanding of the environment and the people being photographed.
One of the key takeaways from the video is Mott's approach to creating honest and authentic images. He stresses the importance of not setting up shots or succumbing to the temptation of capturing typical tourist scenes. Instead, he focuses on finding unique perspectives and moments that genuinely represent the location. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Mott.
I'm curious how the budgeting for this [used] to work? How in the world does the New York Times afford to send a photographer for 5 days to capture images that related to an article already written? That seems like it should cost thousands of dollars just for a single article in the travel section.
What's also wild is they didn't send the photographer and the writer together. Maybe that's standard practice but it seems a bit disingenuous to have a writer telling a story and then the photographer fills in images taken weeks or months apart that might not have anything really to do with the story.
I'll admit, I don't know how this field of photojournalism works at all but it's super interesting.