Journalistic aftertaste
Yesterday I was paid for this photograph, sold through an agency:
Mexico : 10/31/2017 - Xoxocotlan Santa Cruz , Oaxaca , Mexico - Musicos tocan en la noche en el pantheon de Santa Cruz / A musician sang a song in the cemetery of Xoxocotlan Santa Cruz - Candles light the way for spirits returning home in Xoxocotlan Santa Cruz cemetery - Those are the days of the celebrations of the Dead in Mexico and especially in Oaxaca where it turns into something enormous and internationally famous / Mexiko : Tag der Toten - Allerheiligen - Brauchtum - Tradition - Einer der wichtigsten mexikanischen Feiertage © Alessio Coghe/LATINPHOTO.org
You can find it on the agency website by clicking here
I was busy with my photo expedition, maybe the most difficult ever made, when I realized the documentation including this shot. It means a lot to sell this after what I experienced that year. It is a victory.
During that photographic expedition there was a participant who posed very much as a photographer for the simple fact that he had professional equipment. But right in the darkness of the Xoxocotlan cemetery, reality slammed into him like a big fist in the face. Without having the humility to ask for advice (I was still the leader of the expedition) he became very frustrated at not being able to do at least a decent job, to the point of wanting to sabotage that year's expedition together with another. another guy who had only paid half and didn't want to pay what he owed. Naturally, I learned an important lesson from that negative experience, completely changing the proposal for the following years. If I reveal it publicly today it is because I have nothing to hide and I have a clear conscience. And I decided to do it on the occasion that I sold a photo taken during that edition yesterday.
In a certain sense it is like a closing circle. The success of this year's edition, done in a completely alternative way, made me even stronger. My photographic journeys are genuine and truly bring knowledge to those who are committed. The results with the right attitude, humility and desire to work, arrive as they have for many photographers under my guidance. But it is certainly impossible to work miracles, especially with those who arrive thinking they are a great photographer. Respect for the leader in a photographic expedition must be the first thing: this is why excessively cheap photographic trips do not work. The real risk is that of attracting people who take advantage of it to have a cheaper trip and think they can do what they want, they were born learned.
On another front: now that I am not feeding the journalism monster anymore I sold a photo with the agency. It is so ironic. I have embraced ART and therefore my photography responds to certain objectives even when I do photography that can be associated with documentary. Since I changed lenses I feel that I have improved as a photographer. I am no longer willing to accept compromises. Fortunately I have a name, I have various clients and they are increasing significantly, I have a brand that that offers something unique.
Yesterday I sold a photo through the agency and yes, this is a news. I usually sell by myself, and with journalism the collaborations made produced very little compared to the amount of work done, and this is also the reason for my self-analysis and decision to change. Furthermore, as I have explained in the past, I am not interested in feeding the mainstream narrative which is imposed anyway. I prefer to be free. I prefer to be me.
