There’s an interesting conversation with Magnum photographer Christopher Anderson over on the photography blog Conscientous…

Now Anderson is probably someone who most look at as a traditional documentary photojournalist as far as putting people in boxes goes… but have a look at what he says.

The death of journalism is bad for society, but we’ll be better off with less photojournalism. I won’t miss the self-important, self-congratulatory, hypocritical part of photojournalism at all. The industry has been a fraud for some time. We created an industry where photography is like big-game hunting. We created an industry of contests that reinforce a hyper-dramatic view of the world. Hyperbole is what makes the double spread (sells) and is also the picture that wins the contest. We end up with cartoons and concerned photographer myths (disclaimer: yes, there are photographers doing meaningful work)Of course I am worried about how I will make my living now, and I worry for my friends and colleagues too, but I don’t really care about the future of photojournalism. The soul of it has been rotten for a while.

I can’t say I disagree entirely. Maybe this is why I’m struggling to define things in photography right now, including my own work. Maybe this is why the definitions are useless. Either way, I’m excited to see someone of his stature who has won the awards he’s talked about note that a lot of picture may be made just for that sake. Of course I don’t think he means all work and neither do I. Blanket statements are no good but he is pointing at a lot of work and that should be noted.