This Magnum Photographer Will Make You Rethink Your Photography Approach
Since 1996 when he became an intern at Magnum’s London office Jonas Bendiksen worked for editorial clients such as National Geographic, Vanity Fair, Red Bull or Land Rover. He also produced some amazing projects including documenting the second coming of Jesus or photographing the center of fake news with it’s fake history in his fake book.
He also won many awards including Best Photography Book, ICP'Infinity Award or World Press Photo award. Jonas is a documentary photographer, photojournalist and member of legendary Magnum Photos.
Website: https://www.jonasbendiksen.com/
Magnum: https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/jonas-bendiksen/
Jonas Bendiksen: Curiosity in Practice | Magnum Learn: https://www.magnumphotos.com/learn/course/jonas-bendiksen-curiosity-in-practice/
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Listen on Google Podcasts: bit.ly/2UHwbun
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Index:
0:00:00 - Who is Jonas Bendiksen?
0:01:09 - What do you think most people get wrong when it come to documentary photography?
0:02:38 - The story of how Jonas became a photographer
0:06:55 - Now looking back, if you would start with documentary photography today whats the one thing you would stop yourself from doing?
0:09:15 - Millions or maybe billions of photos are being published every day, as a very successful photographer what do you think is that separates photos and photographers that can get traction and attention from ones that can’t.
0:15:02 - How to find the project in this word where everything seems to discovered and everyone with the phone is can be a photojournalist?
0:16:00 - What are you looking for when you look at photography of others
0:18:26 - You said your personal projects drive everything else and you always try to have at least one personal project. How do you keep pushing personal project when there is nothing that would force you to do it (no editor, no one waiting for the pictures)
0:21:09 - Jonas is not one of those 24/7 photographers who eat and sleep with a camera
0:24:02 - Being out in the field is almost like a small detail. From getting the idea to final thing.
0:26:43 - What is your photography process when you are out in the field?
0:29:22 - When do you know the project is finished?
0:30:54 - how do you find what is the best part of the project and how you want to structure it?
0:34:24 - Do you have some sort of system how to get from 10 000 photos to final 50?
0:39:36 - What about family photos? Do you apply the same system?
0:41:57 - Did your first project make you believe you can be a documentary photographer?
0:43:50 - Start of Satelites project
0:44:05 - Satellites. Altai Territory, Russia. 2000. © Jonas Bendiksen | Magnum Photos
0:50:05 - Documenting the second coming of Jesus? Story of The Last Testament
0:52:27 - How did you pick the right messiahs?
0:54:14 - Is design something that is import for you? To find the right presentation?
0:58:39 - What sort of impact do you want to have with your projects and did making of this project have impact on you?
1:01:27 - Do you want to be objective?
1:02:49 - The book of Vales
1:06:02 - Reacting to negative comments
1:09:26 - Did you think about pitching the project to the publisher as unknown photographer
1:11:29 - Photojounalist or documentary photographer career - Is it a good idea?
1:13:33 - The end, thank you for watching!