J. Sybylla Smith, In Conversation with Sean Hemmerle
Episode #1 Summary:
An intimate conversation on Sean Hemmerle’s desire to understand ‘the other’, those portrayed as being against us in political commentary, and in defense of military action, against ‘them’.
Episode Notes
Our discussion delved into the power of photography to shape truth and historical perspective.
As Julian Sander’s great grandfather said:
“Photography can show things in grandiose beauty but also in horrifying honesty, while at the same time deceiving you in the most cunning of fashions. We must be prepared to endure seeing reality: but more importantly, we must pass it on to our fellow people and to future generations, regardless of whether it speaks well of us or not.”
In this book group, Sean discusses, among other things:
Journal entries and black and white portraiture
Past trips to Afghanistan and Iran
The power of photography to shape truth and historical perspective
His mission in teaching photography and creating an image
Referenced in this episode
Tribe: Photography and New Media from the Arab World
Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche :The Danger of a Single Story
The Camden Conference:The Media Revolution
The Ongoing Moment by Geoff Dyer
Published by Kehrerverlag
Note: This bookgroup session was not recorded.