Requiem for Photography?

The above photograph taken at last years Festival Concert is maybe the last photo you will see on this site of village activities. The Festival Committee apparently received a complaint from someone that taking photographs at last years concert was distracting and instead of consulting with both sides  they took the easy way out and effectively banned photography for this year (I would have been free to take anything provided it was not during the performance - in essence I could photograph people standing up and sitting down provided I did not include the orchestra and choir)).  Publicity was asked for from the website for the Festival, yet they have not thought it fit to even let me know what the Programme for the concert is, even though their printed material points people to the website for further information. I am not blaming the committee as such, they do a good job for us, it is just the fact that they can be swayed by a minority and make an easy, not thought through, decision that affects the majority.

There was no appeal on the decision, nor even representation so that they could view the matter objectively before making their decision, instead the easy way out was taken and a ban imposed. This does however  raise an important matter of principle,

I don't know how many objections there were, no-one seems to know, people just beat around the bush whem asked, from this I can only infer that there were not a vast number of complaints - to get a balanced view of the other side. 72 of you viewed the photographs of last year's  concert, many more for the rest of the photographs - in essence a small number has overridden your wishes and stopped you seeing what happens this year.

It is all the stranger given the constant pleading from Janet Woodhouse for archive  photographs for the festival - REMEMBER - todays photographs are tomorrows publicity and then the futures illustrated history.

Publicity does not seem to have entered into the thought process - how much better it would have been to send the above picture with some copy as a press release and get some coverage in the Dereham Times , then possibly with a wider net they could get more backsides onto seats (there were plenty of spaces last year, virtually the whole of the side aisles and quite a few spares in the main body of the church - if another 150 people could be drummed up from a wider area, that would be an extra £1500 towards the Church funds - instead it is minimum publicity, program only admission and apparently eliteist.

The most important point is where does it end? - will any slight muttering be treated with a general ban in the future? - imagine, someone objects to something taken at the car boot fair, a general ban maybe - nice and simple, or how about someone of note complaining that I photographed someones flower arrangement better than theirs, simple answer - ban all photography in the future then no-one can complain...

.. except for you the viewing public, your wishes to see what is happening can very quickly be eroded once this sort of precedent is established, you will only be able to see the censored view of life that the minority allows you to see.

The Community Plan was all about getting your views and seeing how you want the village to progress into the future - one of the things to come out was openness and transparency - if a small minority can decide what the majority can do and see, then we would appear to have stepped backwards in time.

It is actually very annoying as John Labouchere publicly thanked us for covering the event last year and announced to the audience when the photographs would be on the website. You just can't win!

I will be taking photographs at other parts of this years festival but whether I will put them onto the web site is something I will have to consider - IF YOU WANT THEM ON them email me and say so and I will put them on, if no-one wants them then fine, I will actually have more spare time available as I won't bother to photograph anything in the future, all you will see is the words from the printed Elmham News, unless someone else wants to take over the website. Let me hear your views - PLEASE.

PS: Should any of you that like classical music wish for an alternative that day, I can suggest the Prom on Radio3 for that night -

Berg Violin Concerto and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, 'Choral'

Mike Wyatt  A. B. I. P.P - webmaster

PS: If you are wondering, ABIPP is an Associate Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers.