Steve Forrest (UK)

WORKSHOP
I am very concerned with issues that effect society as a whole. However, I am only interested in ‘environmental’ issues if they directly affect the economic lives of the poorest countries and the poorest people within those societies. Behind every single issue is something larger. We must never loose sight of the big picture and we must always question why people are poor and why do they stay poor? With my students I am looking for an intelligent view of the world, a questioning view. We live in a ‘post-political’ world, yet politics is everything as it shaped the world we live in. We need to rediscover politics through our photography. This does not necessary mean being ‘subjective’; as photojournalists we must strive to be ‘objective’, but it does mean we have to look deeper in to our subjects, only then will what we have to show be taken seriously. I am not interested in discussing f-stops and camera types (although technical advice will be given if it improves the message).

BIO
Born in Manchester, UK in 1961, I started photography as a 31 year-old. Now London-based with my own small photo agency, INSIGHT-VISUAL UK. I’ve worked as a newspaper and magazine photographer now for 16 years. My background is in reportage photography and I have covered social stories and wars across Europe, The Middle East and Africa. I have also worked on major ‘cultural’ and ‘heritage’ projects for The United Nations and World Bank. I am a regular contributor to the New York Times and The International Herald Tribune, specialising in ‘reportage portraiture’. Other clients include Stern Magazine, The Guardian, Times Educational Supplements, Panos Pictures and UK Government clients such as The New Opportunities Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and London Development Agency as well as some top UK Unions.
My current personal projects include: ‘A Beautiful Relationship’ (a look at the relationship between Westminster politicians and the Press) and ‘Paranoid Britain’ (A stroll through a Surveillance Society). I have an unhealthy interest in politics.