See: Exhibition Visit: Small Town Inertia (Digital Image and Culture Blog)

Jimmy and Lady. “I never had any plans. Just take it as it comes. Never made any plans. I never knew nothing you see, coming from a small village up in the country like I did. Then, when I was a child in Ireland the country was on the breadline. That’s why a lot of Irish people up and left for America because they just couldn’t live in Ireland, there was no money, no work, no Doctors, no Social Security, no nothing.” © JA Mortram (reproduced with permission)
David. “I’m holed up here, like an outlaw, if I venture out, I have unseen enemies after me, the weather can be an enemy too. I’m outside of everything, because I’m blind, I can’t be a part of things, so I’m apart from them, I can’t go in anywhere and have a look, I can’t really mix with other blind people, as they may have gone blind in another ways to me, so, I’m outside every group, an outlaw.” © JA Mortram (reproduced with permission)

I was pleased to be able to attend an online talk by J.A. Mortram organised by OCA student Helen Rosemier. I have followed Jim’s work with interest over the last few years and have been inspired not only by the quality of the images and the powerful testimony that accompanies them, but also his working methods and strong personal ethics. In many ways the work is very much in the tradition of socially concerned documentary photography with the use of a black and white aesthetic, political intent, subject matter and use of text that provide context and depth. What separates it is the way Jim collaborates with the people he photographs – he describes himself as a conduit, his role being to amplify the stories that the people he collaborates with share with him, his ego and status as a photographer is not his concern or even a consideration. He is a carer for his mother so his understanding of the welfare state and the effect austerity measures have had is part of his lived reality rather than someone who, no matter how well intentioned, is unable to identify so closely with the situation of the people in the photographs. The injustice Jim sees and also experiences himself, is also something that drives him to show the real circumstances of life faced by many people.

As I consider what my BoW project will be I am unsure how closely, if at all, it will resemble Jim’s work. There is much here to inspire however, and much to remember in terms of ethical considerations no matter which direction my work may take. Above all, it is the authenticity and integrity in the work that sets it apart – something that is difficult to show in a tangible way but most definitely present. 

© JA Mortram (reproduced with permission)

Below are some notes from the talk:

  • Work is a way of paying back a debt
    • Pay back in kind all of the people allowed to document
  • COMMUNITY – CONTEXT – CONDUIT
    • The three words that encompass JM’s practice
      • Community:
        • Work was a way of refinding community
        • All made no more than 3 miles from his home
      • Context:
        • All important
      • Conduit:
        • How he would define himself
          • Taking stories and passing on
          • AMPLIFIER
  • Guardian article misquoted saying he was giving people a voice
    • Still unhappy with this description of his work
    • Everyone has a voice but not everyone is listening
      • When people are submerged in a stressful situation they aren’t thinking about how to communicate this
  • Ask – how can I help my community?
    • AMPLIFICATION
  • Austerity
    • The war on the welfare state
  • Started to photograph at the time of BBC 4 season on photography – very influential:
    • Genius of Photography
    • James Ravilious documentary
    • Shooting the Past
  • Social media enabled to put work out 
    • Good response on Flickr
    • Realised could go further into the community
      • Interest in people’s stories, especially people who were being unfairly represented in the media
        • E.g. Benefits Street
      • Very angry as this did not represent personal experience as a carer on benefits 
        • Lots of pain and hardship
  • COMMUNITY = NETWORK
    • Quite something when you meet someone as a stranger and within 15 minutes they are sharing intimate details of their lives and deconstructing themselves
      • Absolute honesty and truth
    • Audience:
      • Would rather affect 1 person profoundly than 1 million not at all
  • Through stories could actively see the repercussions of austerity measures
  • Everyone photographed was met by chance
  • Started to become part of online photo community through blog
    • Duckrabbitblog
    • Grant Scott (United Nations of Photography)
  • Became both addicted and utterly compelled to make images
    • Didn’t realise how much recording stories would have a personal effect
      • Does not see this as a burden – just so sad that people documented are so alone
      • You can want a photograph to change the world but while you’re waiting for that you can do something to change peoples lives
    • We have to bear witness – TESTIMONY
      • History so often written by the victorious
      • Wants work to be a firm rebuttal to anyone in the future who tries to say things weren’t that bad
    • Photography is the most impactful medium for communication
      • Especially now with the reach if social media
        • The challenge is getting a signal through the noise
  • Ethics – personal lines in the sand:
    • Treat people like you want to be treated
    • Must have consent
      • Sometimes talked into sharing pictures by collaborators
  • Does not recognise the language of photographer/subject
    • Process of photographing is organic
      • Does not view himself as a photographer
  • Influences:
  • The truth really matters!
    • Especially because of how insular society is now and false views online
    • Often the stories are hard to photograph and tell
      • But, stories are really important
      • Hope that process of telling stories can give people closure and help them
    • Wants photography to change the world!
    • Wants the world to be better!
      • Hope!
  • Ask yourself –
    • Are you making pictures because that’s what a photographer does or because the picture needs to be seen?
      • What motivates and keeps motivation?
      • What fuels the tenacity?