Photojournalism Training for Uzbek Journalists
Images of Kyrgyzstan reflect freedom to depict social ills regarded as taboo in Uzbekistan.
Photojournalism Training for Uzbek Journalists
Images of Kyrgyzstan reflect freedom to depict social ills regarded as taboo in Uzbekistan.
A photography workshop for journalists from Uzbekistan provided them with practical training in a medium essential to any reporter these days, even in that tightly-controlled state.
Ten journalists from across Uzbekistan attended the four-day course held in December, to learn how photographs can illustrate reports on social issues.
The event was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, which gave participants a chance to savour freedoms they do not enjoy in their own country, such as the ability to photograph street scenes without being pounced upon by the police.
“Taking photos in Bishkek, the capital of a country… where you sense freedom in the air was a wonderful opportunity to photograph whatever we wanted, wherever we wanted to,” one participant said afterwards.
One of the Uzbeks had television experience but came to realise that taking a vivid still image for print or online media was a different skill altogether.
“Now I can not only write reports, but also take pictures for them,” the reporter said.
Others had tried teaching themselves photojournalism skills, but found hands-on training through practice and feedback a much more effective way of learning.
“It’s one thing when you try to improve through trial and error, and something else completely when you get immediate feedback, an explanation of where exactly you’ve gone wrong and how to correct this,” said a participant.
The workship was led by Elena Skochilo, a well-known photographer and blogger in Kyrgyzstan, a former IWPR editor, and now a lecturer at the journalism department of the American University in Central Asia.
A selection of the pictures the journalists took of scenes in Bishkek as part of their training is shown here.
One of them was surprised that no one stopped him photographing homeless people on the streets and in a shelter. In Uzbekistan, any depiction of social ills is seen as tarnishing the upbeat image promoted by the authorities.
Similarly, another reporter found taking pictures of the changing of the guard on Bishkek’s central Ala Too Square an experience. Anyone hanging about taking photographs in the Uzbek capital Tashkent was likely to attract the unwanted attentions of the secret police.
The names of participating journalists have been withheld out of concern for their safety in Uzbekistan.
Inga Sikorskaya is IWPR’s senior editor for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, based in Bishkek.
