Tom Craig and A. A. Gill @ frontline
Twenty unseen photos by Tom Craig with accompanying text by A.A. Gill
Tom and Adrian have been working together for 8 years. Of particular interest to me is the collaboration between photographer and journalist that is a rarity now, yet not so long ago it was always the way documentary essays were done. Today papers, journals, magazines etc expect one person to write, take the photos be sound engineer and anything else that may be required. Tom and Adrian feel this is to the detriment of both crafts. Observing and listening to two people who are experts at their individual crafts, I agree with them. Their collaboration is not words about the pictures nor pictures to back up the words. Each of them has produced work that stands alone and when put together the work is stronger and more powerful.
I found it interesting that they both said they didn't go with any preconceived ideas about the work. They both wanted to arrive and be open to whatever was happening. They said if you go with a preconceived idea then you have already decided what the outcome is and therefore are likely to miss seeing and feeling a particular place at a particular time. Here are two people breaking all the rules and seems to go against everything we are taught about planning and designing the pictures and stories before a shoot. I do understand you need to know and understand the rules to break them and know why you are breaking them.
I think the outcome of their approach and collaboration is brilliant. Tom's images are really strong and complex. A single image tells a story in a way that another photographer may need several images to get the same impact. An example is his picture of the Albanian bathers

There is so much going on in this picture. Most of the men are seen from behind, there is no eye contact, yet this does not seem to matter or reduce the impact of the story. It makes you want to know more about these men. Is it men bonding? Where are the women? There is a sense of a leisurely life, the two men playing chess, the young boys diving of the pontoon. There are no chairs or picnic baskets. The cardboard boxes suggest they are not wealthy, their brown leathery skin indicates they spend a lot of time outdoors. I've spent ages looking at this image and each time I see something else.

An Organised Event

For this exercise we needed to find an organised event where people were moving freely about and to take pictures that tell a story.  London is a city that has lots of events all the time, however the time period I had allocated to do this exercise I found it difficult to find something in the usual places.  After a bit of searching through magazines, newspapers, websites and bulletin boards I found an event to be held for one day at the Garden Museum at Lambeth Palace. A potato day.  That certainly sounded quirky enough for great pictures.  I went to their website to try and get a feel for what was likely to take place to help me think about what photos I might be able to take.  I realised that there was unlikely to be a lot of people attending. The day was about largely outselling heirloom and unusual potatoes, plus a few other gems.

What I aimed for was to show the environment, the produce, the sellers and the buyers. I wanted the pictures to show that this is not a big event but something that is a little quirky but interesting to anyone who wants to know about specialist potatoes.
I took several pictures from a distance, but I was not going to be able to get close up pictures without engaging with people.  I convinced the seller to let me take his portrait and to get him to hold a handful of potatoes. My aim was to show someone who really works in the garden. This is not a vendor he has hands that spend more time in the garden that in a store selling. Do I think I captured that?  Yes I do.
He is clearly a little uncomfortable in front of the camera but he is very proud of his potatoes. Would  I trust this man to tell me useful information about potatoes? You bet. I think I have captured that.
I am also happy that the pictures give you a sense of this small festival in a large indoor space. That the people buying potatoes and onions are serious gardeners.