Gideon Mendel, a London-based South-African photojournalist, has been involved in photographing the HIV/AIDs crisis in Africa for years. Several projects stand out for their use of multi-media, including audio testimony, to present peoples’ lives and to link the viewer to channels for action.
UK Guardian newspaper;
An Answer in Africa
Salvation is Cheap – which uses panoramic photography in a multi-media format combined with testimony.
ActionAid
‘Eight African Women address world leaders’ – with ActionAid! as part of the ‘Make Poverty History campaign.
Interview with Gideon Mendel on www.digitaljournalist.org touching on issues of the role of a photographer – “Are there some moments which should be sacrosanct, exempt from the intrusion of a camera?” – combining images with personal testimony, balancing the terrible reality of the disease with postive stories of peoples’ lives and working with organisations to use his images in their work.
Video of an evening with Gideon Mendel at the Frontline Club that looks at issues of representation – balancing severity of the situation with positives, being an ‘activist photographer’, keeping the audience engaged on an issue where change is slow, and ‘tools of visual advocacy.’
Filed under: Interview, Multi-media, Photography Tagged: | Africa, HIV/AIDs, photographers, representation
