Life under the Sicilian mafia in pictures

[Alex Benjamin]

Nice photo feature in The Guardian. Fantastic photojournalism.

Mobsters, murder and moments of resistance: life under the Sicilian mafia – in pictures

A new exhibition gathers work from key photographers who documented life in Palermo as the mafia stepped up its attacks on civil society

www.theguardian.com

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thank you

 

[CMoore]

Wow........... a photographers dream.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Wow........... a photographers dream.

Unless the photographer become a target.

 

[snusmumriken]

On that subject, I really enjoyed this film about photographer Letizia Battaglia.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

On that subject, I really enjoyed this film about photographer Letizia Battaglia.

Just saw the trailer. Powerful stuff. Desperate to find a place online where I can see it!

 

[guangong]

I have owned her book since it was published. A woman whose bravery I have admired since reading her book.

 

[foc]

Thank you for posting.

 

[CMoore]

Unless the photographer become a target.

It would be interesting to know how often, if ever that happened. Certainly was a possibility
Does anybody know if Weegee ever had any problems.?

I get the feeling, if you were simply shooting the aftermath, most photographers never had any issues.?

 

[Alex Benjamin]

It would be interesting to know how often, if ever that happened. Certainly was a possibility

Indeed. From a 2017 article:

Riding a Vespa and armed only with her Leica camera, Battaglia scoured the alleys of Palermo, day and night. She was always the first on the scene of the crime, often even before police and relatives.

“They were terrible years,” Battaglia said, slowly blowing out cigarette smoke. “You no longer knew who your friends or enemies were. In the morning, you came out of the house and did not know if you’d come back in the evening. The bosses could blow my head off, any second. When the police stopped them, I approached them, as close as possible, to photograph them, in their handcuffs. I wanted the bosses to look me in my eyes, even at the cost of spitting on my face. That was also a way for me to challenge the mafia.”

From mafia murders to innocent beauty: Letizia Battaglia’s Palermo portfolio

Celebrated Italian photojournalist reveals how the death of a 10-year-old boy influenced her work

www.theguardian.com

This is photojournalism. In case of documentary photography, the photographer takes the time to know the subjects, becomes part of their lives. Famous example is Gordon Parks' Harlem Gang Leader series:

Harlem Gang Leader, 1948 - Photography Archive - The Gordon Parks Foundation

The Gordon Parks Foundation permanently preserves the work of Gordon Parks, makes it available to the public through exhibitions, books, and electronic media and supports artistic and educational activities that advance what Gordon described as "the common search for a better life and a better...

www.gordonparksfoundation.org

Both take amazing courage.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Now this is slowly but steady creeping in the living in Antwerp...