http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us http://paiement.parismatch.com/photoreportage2009/unalbum3.php?id=9&ord=9 What do you think? Look closely... They won the Paris Match Prize... 5000 Euros Upon receiving the prize they read a statement saying they set up all the pictures. To denounce the mechanisms of a certain press which relies on sensationalism without cross checking its informations. http://www.libestrasbourg.fr/actu/2009/06/deux-étudiants-trompent-paris-match-avec-un-photoreportage-bidonné.html Pretty convincing set up though... Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:36:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement what a waste... Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:58:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150342 Brilliant. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:47:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150345 How stupid. They only state that photojournalists can not be trusted with this stunt. Thank you guys. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:50:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150352 Sorry, I tihink it's not so stupid... They are students and have done their homework very well. To analyse and denounce how parts of the media is producing content is not stupid. And to question photojournalists is not a bad idea per se: watch the watchdog... And to run away with 5000Euro at the same time is even better... Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:26:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150357 OK John, I get your point. Still it sounds to me much like hackers stealing private info online from lets say a government server and say later that they just wanted to show how vulnerable the security system is...it can be noble, it can be wrong but its edgy at least. Really a shame the photos have zippo value now as they look cool. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:53:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150358 !!!!! ABOUT TIME!.... it IS not only a very intelligent and thoughtful indictment (though the pictures aren't terribly good, but then again, this is one of my big beefs with press/journalism: a train ride of replication and endeavor towards copying others, where the goal seems to be 'THE PICTURE' rather than something more substantial (sorry for the wacked, gross over-generalization) but something that folks need to think about much much more... as john pointed out, as as emerged in the PDN/Duckrabbit threads, the outsiders are watching the insiders who for much too long have been keening themselves on being outsiders to begin with;))... they have obviously looked at enough work and style that haunts the world of running 'concerned' photographic eyes that the pictures themselves look like a large chunk (as well as the circumstances) of what passes for sensitive/dedicated witness....it is part indictment (long needed) but also filled with lots of humor, humor directed at a world and profession that, at least from my place and reaction and relationship to it, way too self-congratulatory and self-righteous....I mean really...we all know that, right?... iconoclastic thought aint cynicism but the richest form of celebration: to shake the shackles off... great for these students... thanks john cheers bob Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:25:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150359 Brilliant ... this doesn't devalue what others do ... just raises important questions and illustrates that there is both power and freedon being on the 'outside'. All media practices this by the way. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:21:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150365 It's stupid. Of course if you use the techniques of photojournalism to create fake images people will believe you. There is nothing new here. It is a waste because that money could have been spent actually documenting important issues instead of making a self righteous statement. There act did nothing to change the way most people view the media and even the tiny percentage of professionals who are even aware of what they have done will simply shrug and move on. So what was the point? Nothing.... Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:47:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150368 True Damaso! The money could have been used to document important issues that would probably do nothing to change the way most people view the world and even the tiny percentage of professionals who are even aware of what they have done will simply shrug and move on....unless the photos win an award and then that tiny percentage of professionals will try and find similar stories to document in a similar style. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:04:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150369 For those who are not familiar with the magazine they nailed, Paris Match is also known as "Pravda Match" for staged photos and VERY extensive use of photoshop!! They did not do anything that this magazine does not do on a regular basis... Brilliant! Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:22:19 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150371 Unfotunately my French is crap so I haven't read the article properly, nor what incited the 'scam' However I understand from what I have gleaned that essentially two students took 'arty' photos and totally fabricated a/the story and b/most of the photos were 'set-up' by that I presume they mean they called on favors from friends who 'acted' in scenarios that were directed by the photographer. Is this the right interpretation? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:05:35 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150401 Lisa there is a bit more to it. Some students carefully studied how social documentary photographs are made, then set up a series of pictures with friends to build a story related (and purposedly grossly exaggerated) to their own experience as a student. They then submitted the body of work to a contest held by Paris Match magazine for photography students, to deliberately try and frame the magazine. And it worked!!! The pictures were convincing enough for Paris Match which didn't bother to check on the veracity of the set. The students won the prize and then issued a statement saying the pictures were staged to denounce the way some sensationalist press uses/manipulates pictures, thus rubbing the magazine's nose in its own shit. As Olivier Boulot writes, Paris Match is well known to have been often suspected of setting up pictures (its slogan is "The weight of words, the shock of pictures"). Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:07:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150402 MMMWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!!! Excellent and hilarious! France's answer to 'The Chaser'! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdnAaQ0n5-8 Its always good to send up a 'Sacred Cow'... Good for them! Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:24:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150403 Unfortunately, the story won't have a happy ending as the folks at Paris Match changed their minds and will not give them the 5K. This is clearly a disappointment since they DID respect the rules of the contest, and their work is clearly representative of what the paper regularly does. So that Damaso and TVC can, maybe, feel a little better about this, my guess is that they would not have done it if the contest had been organized by a respected outfit. It only works because of who they "punked"... Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:31:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150405 although at first this issue make me smile at the same time for me is another strike against my animus. I really feel out of time. I see more and more stage things in awards, not only in the example you mention now. The industry use and demans "cosmetic" productions of stories. At the same time no one give a shit for real issues that don't have a lot of sex, madness or death. In the middle is the life, the simple life that i feel have no space in all the medias. Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:38:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150416 Hernan, One of the (several) points these guys make is exactly what you mention... Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:52:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150417 si, i understand John, but i don't know why this don't make me feel better. By the way, every time last year i participate in a contest my wife jokes with me telling: "you have to stage all, why don't shoot the family in a setting story. Sure this work get choosed". Now i am waiting her back home to tell this story. Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:13:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150418 Time for an interlude? Maybe a foto worthy of the Paris Match itself? "L'étranger" <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/milyovsky/3665357214/" title="Alien by Barry Milyovsky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3665357214_4a70a90b32.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Alien" /></a> Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:58:14 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150423 this made me think of the film 'shattered glass' not the best film but intersting to see how easy it was for a young journalist to simply make up all his storys when he worked for The New Republic. Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:05:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150429 I don't get all the French here, but seems an important discussion - especially if it's all going to be free / low budget and "citizen (photo)journalism" now. How can we trust content more or less anonymous? Will reporters/publishers check their facts? PM obviously should have done here. Good way to teach them the lesson! Related, just saw some YouTube clips of Bob Woodward talking about the importance of fact checking. Also, NYT's Kristof on fact checking ("it's ok to be skeptical, even of good people"), decoy wallets and shooting blow-darts at mangos... All at "Reporters Center", http://www.youtube.com/reporterscenter Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:17:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150516 Exactly, Morten. I believe what you've just said is the really big picture here, even bigger than simply framing the framer as my French colleagues affirm (about Paris Match). The major role of art is confronting the boundaries of reality, so as far as I can understand, they really did it. This is a great proof that the power of journalism must come from the professionalism of its authors and not from the nature of the medium. And to prove that is exactly the opposite to pointless. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:36:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/set-up-statement#150556