Tag: Majority World

Inspiring a Better Future

The only thing more amazing than our technology is what the world does with it

Intel Corporation USA signs contract with Majority World CIC to document Intel’s CSR projects in Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, UK, Poland, Kenya, India and Hongkong.
One or more Intel employees volunteer at these project locations. The employees recently won an internal contest winning their project a technology package to help the projects more effectively achieve their goals. This assignment is about telling the project story, Intel’s effort and capturing the humanity of it through a Photo Journal.
Watch this space for updates on our photographers at each location.

Stories

Majority World photo essay in China

Dave, my former student at Shantao University worked as a photojournalist for a Chinese newspaper for about 2 years. He has recently joined as photo editor for Nan Feng Chuang (Southwind Window) magazine, a nation-wide bi-weekly News magazine mainly focusing on political and financial issues about China and the world.
About this Buzkashi story Dave says: We love it. It works great especially with the text written by our writer. I hope we can have more stories like this, visually strong beautiful images, about different lifestyles of people around the world.
MW china 1MW china 2

Money Transfer

Mohammad Momin is the shopkeeper at our local mudir dokan in Dhanmondi



“What options do I have here? I struggle to make an honest living. My other options are to be a thief, a gangster, or a political party thug. Had I gone overseas (Momin did go once to Saudi Arabia, but was conned by the ‘agent’ and came back empty handed), I could have earned and helped to better my family.”
Please Retweet #Bangladesh #money

Majority World on Corriere Immigrazione (Italian)

Majority world


Perch? ? importante che a raccontare i ?paesi impoveriti? siano i loro stessi figli.?Le foto (link)
Until the lions have their own storytellers, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter, si legge in epigrafe a?My Journey as a Witness, il libro fotografico che raccoglie la storia artistica e fotogiornalistica di Shaihidul Alam. Fino a quando i leoni non avranno i loro cantastorie, i racconti di caccia celebreranno sempre il cacciatore. Shahidul Alam ? un artista eclettico del Bangladesh: ha sempre spaziato tra musica, scrittura e immagine tenendo l?impegno sociale come filo conduttore di tutto il suo lavoro. Ed ? stato lui, all?inizio degli anni ?90, a cominciare a usare l?espressione?Majority World?(la parte maggiore del mondo) in sostituzione alle ambigue e inaccurate?devoloping countries(paesi in via di sviluppo) o?third world?(terzo mondo).?Majority World?? anche il nome (link) di un?agenzia di fotogiornalismo (Alam ? tra i fondatori) che ha la sua sede centrale nel Regno Unito e che raccoglie i lavori di fotografi della maggior parte del mondo impegnati a raccontare i loro Paesi fuori dai clich? e dagli stereotipi troppo spesso presenti nella visione occidentale. Lo scorso luglio alla Guardian Gallery di Kings Place, a Londra, ? stata organizzata un?esposizione di alcuni tra gli scatti pi? belli di questi professionisti. Colin Hastings, cofondatore con Alam di?Majority World, sarebbe felice di fare viaggiare questa mostra per il mondo e di raccogliere le immagini in un catalogo. Riuscirci, come sempre, ? una questione di fondi e di sponsor. In attesa che qualcosa si muova, sperando in fondo di contribuire a questo movimento, abbiamo il privilegio e il piacere di proporvi alcune di queste immagini.
Stefania Ragusa

Majority World exhibition at Guardian Gallery London

Gallery Walk “Insider, Outsider?” from Shahidul Alam on Vimeo.

Featuring images taken by: A. M. Ahad, Bangladesh; Aaron Sosa, Panama/Venezuela;Adolphus Opara, Nigeria; Andr?s Lofiego, Argentina; Andrew Esiebo, Nigeria; Daniel Pati?o Flor, Ecuador; Dominic Sansoni, Sri Lanka; Fabrice Monteiro, Benin; Farzana Hossen, Bangladesh; Kishor Sharma, Nepal; M?rio Macilau, Mozambique; M. Anisul Hoque, Bangladesh; Neo Ntsoma, South Africa; Samar Hazboun, Palestine; Shadi Ghadirian, Iran; Shankar Sarkar, India; Tammy David, Philippines
What makes a photographer different? Camera manufactures would have us believe it is their latest model, perhaps a fancy lens. Others will cite prestigious awards, or acceptance in galleries. A grandmother in a village in Bangladesh, a teenage rapper in South Africa or a tin miner in Bolivia will differ. These accolades will have little meaning to them. Surprisingly, not even the photographer?s nationality, or the colour of her skin, or the language she speaks will greatly affect their judgment, though all of these will matter. It is the relationship she has with them that will determine what they make of her. Are they comfortable in her presence? Does she know how to listen? Does she return? Does she care? Does she make them laugh? They have always found these human traits far more important. The characteristics that have led to intimacy, trust and understanding.
These are the photographers they will confide in, shelter in their homes, and reach out to when they need a friend. It is she they will consider an insider, helping them reach out. This does not reduce the necessity for a professional photographer to have superb technique, absolute reliability, and excellent communication skills. Traits any well-trained photographer will have. The presence of the Internet and the sophistication of modern equipment ensure that with the support of a good agency, any good photographer will send out high quality images with minimum delay. The variables today, are those human traits, the exorbitant costs and delays that plague international travel and local language and knowledge.
It is precisely in these areas that majority world photographers have an edge. Their understanding will ensure that the story is not ?misread?. The trust they have gained will provide that unique access. The fact that they return will lead to those many breaking stories that get left behind when the media moves on. Because they care, the stories will be about people and not about numbers.
This exhibition provides a rare insight into the work of seasoned professionals living and working in their own communities. Fresh imagery sensitively produced provides the visual quality that generic images of mega agencies lack. Local knowledge and the ability to follow up, provides the assurance and credibility that a fast moving media constantly risks missing out on. The show also provokes, asks hard questions, challenges prejudices. In an age where PR substitutes for news, these are refreshing ingredients.
Shahidul Alam
Dhaka, July 2012

The Majority World Photo Agency and The Guardian partner for Insider, Outsider? in London

Photo Show ? The Majority World Photo Agency and The Guardian partner for Insider, Outsider? in?London


INSIDER, OUTSIDER?
Insider, Outsider? Photography that challenges perceptions of the developing world?runs until 22 July at the Guardian Gallery in London. It isMajority World?s first UK exhibition featuring 17 emerging photographers from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Photos above ? Shadi Ghadirian and below ? Farzana Hossen
?Whilst ?insiders? locally, many photographers from the developing world are ?outsiders? on the global image market, remaining under represented as storytellers about their own countries.
?Local photographers have an insider perspective that is unique, reflecting on and revealing previously untold stories around them ? critical, thoughtful and intimate stories close to home. Their privileged access enables them to develop an intimate understanding of their subjects and theme.? Press release.
It?s also interesting to see that staged work by Shadi Ghadirian (image above with yellow rubber glove) is included in this show as her work will also be included in the upcoming show?Light From the Middle East?at the V&A, see previous?Hotshoe Blog post.?This raises the question of the types of work on show and I?m wondering whether Ghadirian?s work is the only work that is staged in this show, rather than coming from a documentary tradition.
Majority World Photo Agency?supports these photographers by making their work visible, and by enabling them to earn money by selling globally. In so doing, it also contributes to a greater diversity of voices and viewpoints describing the developing world. The chairman is photographer, writer and human rights activist?Shahidul Alam.
See over for a list of all the photographers included and a couple more images?
 

? Andr?s Lofiego, El Ojo a Cuerda

Featuring images taken by:
A. M. Ahad, Bangladesh
Aaron Sosa, Panama/Venezuela
Adolphus Opara, Nigeria
Andr?s Lofiego, Argentina
Andrew Esiebo, Nigeria
Daniel Pati?o Flor, Ecuador
Dominic Sansoni, Sri Lanka
Fabrice Monteiro, Benin
Farzana Hossen, Bangladesh
Kishor Sharma, Nepal
M?rio Macilau, Mozambique
M. Anisul Hoque, Bangladesh
Neo Ntsoma, South Africa
Samar Hazboun, Palestine
Shadi Ghadirian, Iran
Shankar Sarkar, India
Tammy David, Philippines

? Shahidul Alam,

Majority World Photo Agency is ?an innovative social enterprise that works with talented photographers from the developing world. We specialise in high quality imagery that provides unique insights into local cultures, development issues, environments and contemporary lifestyles in these diverse continents. We also work with clients to commission assignments with our experienced photographers who understand the language, the culture, and the locality because it is their own?. From the press release.

Insider, Outsider?

Photography that challenges perceptions of the developing world

‘Insider, Outsider?? is Majority World?s first UK exhibition?featuring 17 photographers from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East sharing critical, thoughtful and intimate stories close to home.The exhibition is open for 3 weeks from July 3-22. E invite to show (please RSVP).


What makes a photographer different??Camera manufactures would have us believe?it is their latest model, perhaps a fancy lens.?Others will cite prestigious awards, or?acceptance in galleries. A grandmother in a?village in Bangladesh, a teenage rapper in?South Africa or a tin miner in Bolivia will?differ. These accolades will have little?meaning to them. Surprisingly, not even the?photographer?s nationality, or the colour of?her skin, or the language she speaks will?greatly affect their judgment, though all of?these will matter. Continue reading “Insider, Outsider?”

Panduka de Silva selected for Fujifilm Global site

The following is a mail from our friend and Majority World photographer Panduka de Silva.

Congratulations Panduka.

ps:?http://fujifilm-x.com/photographers/en/panduka_de_silva/ will give you a better overview of Panduka’s work.

EXIF data: X-Pro1 XF60mmF2.4 R Macro F8 1/320 ISO400 There was this ?eternal lamp? an ornate lamp of brass, protected in a structure of its own and devotees use coconut oil to keep the flames lighted perpetually. These two, attired in white and engaged in an animated conversation, bathed in direct sunlight was a challenge to any camera ? exposure wise. The capture was made un-obtrusively by smoothly compensating to a EV -1 value.

Dear Family, friends and colleagues,
The president & CEO Shigetaka Komori, on 20th June launched the X-Photographers on line gallery show casing the work of 48 photographers from 12 countries who have been privy to the use of the Fujifilm X series cameras the X10, X-S1 and theX-Pro1.
A collection of my photographs captured with the X-Pro1, have been selected for the Fujifilm Global site, which I assume is not only an honor to me but to Sri Lanka as well.
http://fujifilm-x.com/photographers/en/
The premium Fujifilm X-Pro1; a virtually inconspicuous camera with the trio of lenses; 18mm f2; 35mm f1.4 and the 60mm f2.4 Macro, is a machine that I have fallen in love with for its? sheer splendor, craftsmanship, handling, the retro feel and mostly for the outstanding images that it produces.
Do please visit the site at leisure?..
? and best of wishes to all!!!
Panduka
Past President – Institute of Sri Lankan Photographers
Former Creative Director / Liaison – World Press Photo Foundation
Council Member / Academic Director – Photographic Society of Sri Lanka
Visiting Lecturer – University of Colombo
Member – Photographic Society of Singapore

Jashim Salam finalist at Street Photography Asia

Photo: Jashim Salam/Drik/Majority World

Photo: Jashim Salam/Drik/Majority World

Photo: Jashim Salam/Drik/Majority World


FINALIST?: Jashim Salam