What I’m Reading
November 19, 2021
This week, What I’m Reading returns with three reads that fuel photography inspiration, inform the world about the important wildfires issue and how we can fight those fires more effectively, and remind us of an important issue that has resurfaced in the headlines lately: migration in the EU.
Photography Inspiration & Journalism as the Reflection of Society
EL PAÍS has published an English version of their interview with Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist Emilio Morenatti.
I’ve pointed you to Morenatti’s work before on December 22, 2020 and June 22, 2021. In this interview, he talks in-depth about the experiences he made covering the pandemic, the difficulties he encountered in securing the access needed, and the intimacy of reporting.
The conversation also touches on his disability (in 2009, he lost a leg in an explosion while covering the conflicts in Afghanistan) and his early days as a photographer.
What I enjoyed the most were his words on what journalism stands for. Morenatti sees it as a reflection of society. He wants to make visible what gets often neglected. Hence his disinterest in covering high-level sports or red-carpet events.
Controlling Wildfires
This next story informs us on a very important environmental issue — wildfires. But it’s also photography inspiration because the photography in National Geographic’s Wildfires in the West are inevitable, but this strategy can help control them is powerful; dramatic and beautiful at the same time.
Alejandra Borunda (words) and Lynsey Addario (pictures) cover the wildfires in California from earlier this summer/fall. The angle is unique and thought-provoking.
Let the power of photography take you into this story. You’ll discover how “treating” forests can impact the outcome of such fires. You’ll hear about “good fire” and thinning out forests in a controlled way to address overgrown forests.
There’s no way to prevent fires, but read this important work to learn how controlled measures in our forests can help firefighters bring fires under control and thus save lives (it also helps forests recover from fires).
Migration in Pictures
Finally, I’d like to point your attention to migration. The Polish-Belarus border has become the latest location for political power plays. Without getting into such a debate, take a look at this picture gallery about what the situation looks and feels like for the migrants themselves.
Important work. Powerful and emotional work. That being said, I’ll let the pictures do the talking and leave you to it.
With that, I’ll leave you to your readings and hope you’ve found something of value today. Of Miles & Minutes, episodes three and four are making progress and should hopefully be ready soon. And I have more reading insights and a fresh set of my pictures coming soon.
