No Mas Muertes

take a look to Alex Webb work from the book " Crossing" wchich deals with U.S. mexican border, It could help.
Cheers,
Pupo

Joey, I’d be careful stating your mission statement/plan/overall intent on a public forum. Not to question anyone’s integrity (I don’t know everyone personally, so how could I?) but it might not be advantageous if you’re seeking to cover this story.

As for publications, I would look at newspapers along the souther states (California, Arizona, Texas) and find ones that publish stores of national relevance and approach their photo editors with your COMPLETED work.

Let me emphasize COMPLETED again.

Completed work; underlined and bolded.

Don’t bring them an idea or a organization contact and then propose to shoot it. Instead of purchasing yours, they could easily turn around and send one of their own photographers to track down your leads and contacts and do your story.

Photojournalism requires a lot of street smarts and quick thinking, and not always in the field.

Bring your work, if it’s of worth in terms of comprehensive, fair storytelling and get it in your college’s halls. Take it to high schools in diverse neighborhoods in those regions. Use it to bring attention to the matter, as you obviously state is your intent, and then put them on Digital Railroad or Photoshelter, so they can be then purchased by clients across the country. Now you’ve opened your photographs to practical access from publications. You don’t provide anyone with your negatives or originals, you show them your finished product.

Take it around. You’ll get the door in your face, but someone might listen and that’s all you need.

Best of luck, Joey.

Thanks a lot for the tips Mustafah, much appreciated…So should I remove this post?

Joey,

If you get an angle on any Nicaraguan’s and their ordeal whle crossing over, during your coverage and you folow through we can talk about publishing here at LA PRENSA. PM me so we can talk to see what’s your angle.

TS

No, don’t take it down. Just revise it a bit and avoid going into too much detail on public forums unless you’re sure of the people.

Agsin this isnt a jab at any LSers, but I reckon it’s good to learn these things early on the easy way, rather than later, the hard way.

Do the work, then talk to people about getting it published. Keep your angle to yourself. That’s what will make your photographs yours.

Joey, You might want to research charitable, humanitarian, civil liberty, legal, organizations, when you are ready, with an edit of your images. These org’s always need photos for newsletters, websites,annual reports and/or all of the above. Research past articles and identify who was there.. who was representing who.. Most likely you will find a lawyer group, a social worker group, or a phyiscians for social responsibillity type group and… For example, the California Bar publishes a newletter highlighting stories of legal interest to their constituents. I was asked to photograph for this newsletter and it was interesting, it was a fair fee, and they paid on time. You might also look at the California Council on the Humanities… Maybe Arizona has something similar. It’s a lot of ground work, but, a reality we all face as documenatry photograhers. The research you do now will help you in the future. Before you get carried away, I want to underscore Mustafah’s input. His advice is very sound advice. Good for you for following those subjects you care about. Good Luck and keep us posted. Suerte, amor, y dinero! Ana

Joey: Perhaps showing your work in a Mexican festival? I have two in mind, drop me a line if interested. I do not agree with Mustafah, nothing wrong with openly stating what you intend to do and looking for publishers. Keep on working and get inspired. Take care. Daniel Navarro, Mexican writer and naturalist.

Daniel: except the fact that people can easily take someone else’s idea and angle and do it themselves. I find plenty wrong with that.

HI Joey, great project:
I spend a couple of months late last year working on this topic and have been working on getting this photo essay out to the masses over the last six months, I’d be happy to share some thoughts and give a few places to start if you want to contact me. Or you can see a short trailer of my assignment on YouTube if you want to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzvB2qDpD1A
Good Luck
Terry

Excellent advice for this youngman, Mustafah.

I’m hesitant to give advice as I’m a complete fool myself, as Mustafah will probably agree. But if you take an idea to someone good, and you have a strong portfolio to back it up, they’re unlikely to send someone else to shoot it instead, particularly if you emphasise that you have the contacts and are ready to go.

From an editors point of view, you’ve done the research, you have the language(?) you have an in, and you have an understanding of the story and you’re enthusiastic about it, so you will shoot it better than one of their bored staff. Plus, if they send you away with a good idea, who’s to say you won’t sell it to the competition and get it out quickly? – While their own photographer is still trying to find a fixer and a hotel with a plug socket.

I may be stupid or lucky or something, but that’s been my experience. It only works with some stories, but this is the kind of story it can work with, where access can be difficult and maybe it’s going to take time and discomfort to do it. They’re unlikely to pay expenses unless they buy, so financially you might as well be doing it for yourself, but if you can say you’re working for someone, doors will open and it can give you the reason to stick it out and finish and not become an actuary.

Mustafah was totally right everything else though, don’t put a story idea on a public forum and you should guard your contacts rom predatory editors. I have had ideas nicked before and the truth is, if you are someone who has ideas you can usually have another one, while the person who has to steal is stuffed. Editors want people who can generate ideas. They will take a punt on someone new, and most of them are not sharks. In fact most of them are very nice. As for tips on publications who would be interested: where would you like to see it published? Start with them and don’t think you have to start small – but don’t mind if you do end up small.

Finally, and please don’t be discouraged by this remark, but it’s not the freshest story around. It’s a good story, but you will have to work hard to make it new. In this business 18 months or more can seem like recent coverage of this kind of subject, longer if it’s had a lot of exposure from someone famous. There are ways to do it though.

that sounded really rude. I wasn’t referring to your photos, I just meant the subject, generally.

Thanks a lot for the tips Amy. I’m working on taking it around right now. I’m still working on showing what I have on ls right now. Some key photos are missing and the text is sloppy, but it’s on its way.