Peter Dench
In today’s world, is the middle-aged, white, male photographer a subject of discrimination? Peter makes a case
The tweet: ‘Every time a white, male, middle-aged photographer gets hired a fairy dies’, was posted recently by an established female photographic artist and senior lecturer of photography. I’ve killed a lot of fairies in my 20-year career and hope to kill legions more.
The Me Too movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault, especially in the workplace, is crucial and necessary. Those who abuse their positions and commit criminal acts should of course be exposed and convicted. The consequences of #metoo have rippled far, and far into photography. I hope the core objective of #metoo doesn’t get diluted. I’ve become part of a group now regarded as toxic. What, and the way in which we photograph, is under increasing scrutiny.
I urgently required delivery of an exhibition and posted a request on Instagram with a picture of the parcels and the hashtag #manandvan, which had over 8,000 posts. Persons complained (#womanandvan had just over 40 posts). I recently posted a collaborative portrait from a new reportage of a teenage, female, Russian football fan on Facebook. ‘Is this clickbait, Peter?’ I was asked. (Isn’t all photography?) I wasn’t asked if the portrait I posted of a bare- chested, muscled, male Danish football fan was clickbait. I clicked ‘unfriend.’
Photography has faced many changes – the collapse of editorial budgets and proliferation of digital photography; the demise of the traditional photo agency and rise of online self-promotion. I have engaged and adapted as necessary and regularly check my ethnic and gender bias. In a recent photo festival that I helped curate, of the 12 exhibitions on display, seven featured women of varying ethnicities and nationalities.
There are more photography grants exclusively for women, ethnic and young photographers, and I welcome that I’m not qualified to apply. I’ve stopped accepting invitations to judge photography competitions. When I tick the white British, heterosexual, married, no disability and no religion boxes on a job application, I don’t have high hopes of an interview. It wasn’t my choice; I was just born this way.
I no longer expect to be sent halfway around the world to report on news stories in West Africa, South America or the Far East, as there are accomplished and committed local photographers. I try to focus on documenting relevant issues more locally across the UK and Europe.
It’s noticeable that editorial publications are being more conservative in the choice of which images they publish. It won’t stop me shooting a thorough and accurate reportage. Each publication can make a moral judgement for their readership with the edit. I have delivered client briefs to a high standard and will continue to do so for, I hope, another 20 years. I’ve left instructions after my demise for a grant to be set up for photographers aged over 50, as they have more experience and – arguably – better ideas.
Hello! I’m Peter Dench, a middle-aged, white, male photographer. Please hire me.
Peter Dench is a photographer, videographer, presenter, writer, author and curator. He is the recepient of a World Press Photo award and has published several books. See www.peterdench.com