Jess Crombie: On storytelling partnerships

In this episode, we talk with Jess Crombie about the importance of collaboration and partnership when telling other people’s stories. Jess describes some of her experiences from working in the humanitarian sector which made her question the way that content is normally collected, and which led her to a more considered practice that accounts for the power dynamics in these storytelling partnerships.

What you’ll find inside:

Nigerien proverb: “A song is sweeter from its author’s mouth.” (3:00)

“I was having … these incredibly intimate and personal conversations with people about some of the most challenging times in their lives, and as I was having them, I was thinking: Am I allowing this person to tell the story the way they want? Do they have enough time to tell their story in the way they want?” (9:20)

“It was that moment that I realised that all I had to do was to just be really clear and explain what I was actually trying to do, and then people could make the informed choice about whether or not to share, what stories they shared with me.” (12:35)

“But I think, yeah, it’s about that constant reflection and awareness which is really, a bit exhausting and sometimes you don’t want to do it, but if you’re making work about the most vulnerable people it seems really irresponsible not to be reflecting on your practice constantly.” (17:45)

“Ultimately it’s about a conversation, a really, really in-depth, honest conversation, and about allowing yourself the time to have that conversation.” (23:10)

“When I say partner with you, I don’t mean, you know, giving them a camera and getting them to take the pictures themselves, but partner with you in terms of being active contributors to the story you’re telling.” (26:30)

What does photo ethics mean to Jess?

“I think photography ethics for me is about considering not so much the act of taking the photograph, as who you are photographing and what they think about the story that you’re telling.” (41:00)

Links:

The People in the Pictures: Vital perspectives on Save the Children’s image making by Jess Crombie and Siobhan Warrington

Oral Testimony Works

The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Photography Ethics Symposium 2019 Report

Catching Alices by Save the Children