March 28, 2024 7:40 am

ABOUT THE J412 CLASS MISSION

About J412: Intentions and Goals

The heart of Documentary Photography is to photograph with intention and that intention is based in each photographer’s concerns, desires and viewpoint. This New Mexico State University will learn from a study of successful documentary projects, and from each other as we go forth and continue the decade long class project: The Small Village New Mexico Project (SVNM).
The pursuit of our photography requires a seriousness of purpose and an engagement with our society.
We are up to the task. We will make a difference. We will matter.

Migrant Mother, Nipomo, CA, 1936, by Dorothea Lange

     The class is asked to do something large: A) affect what we engage in, B) Seek and affect those who we share our work with.

     We are dedicated to the idea that there are important stories to tell and that still photography–especially photography that interacts with and shows humanity–can tell  meaningful stories, stories that need to be told.

The Primary Method and Intention of J412 to continue to document the ever-changing and urbanizing southern New Mexico (the SVNM project).

This is serious work and has the potential to change lives (yours’ and your subject’s).
Each student is expected to be:

  • Thoughtful.
  • Respectful
  • Present and engaged.
  • Responsible (to yourself and your subjects).

The semester will be considered successful, if serious work gets done, the work inspires fellow students -and viewers of this site- and that there is significant growth for each participant/photographer as a photographer and human being.

1 thought on “ABOUT THE J412 CLASS MISSION

  1. Howdy J412 Documentary Shooters!
    We’re gonna make some great work this semester.
    We’re not gonna just futz around.
    Let’s make photos of the PEOPLE of southern New Mexico (including ourselves!!!!! LOL!) and the place where they live.
    Let’s get excited. Let’s burn our shutters out!
    Make this work important to each otyher, to ourselves and to whoever we can get to look at it!
    Let’s go to war with the banality and absurdity of our times!
    Eh?
    Eh!

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