“The Demotix Revolution” – jwarren.co.uk

“The impact of citizen journalism on photography” – frontlineclub.com

Excellent Blog post by my good friend and colleague Jonathan Warren on the ‘citizen-journalism website and photo agency’ Demotix. As Jonathan writes, “I got an interesting email the other day asking if Demotix is good for distributing work – the short answer: No.”

To read Jonathan’s longer answer click here.

In the video above from the end of last year you can see Turi Munthe, CEO of Demotix, and I lock horns at The Frontline Club over the impact of ‘citizen journalism’ on photography.

London Photographers Branch website in production. Photo by Jonathan Warren. (c) Jonathan Warren, 2010. Published here by kind permission of Jonathan Warren.

“London Photographers’ Branch” – londonphotographers.org

“London photographers develop new organisation” – National Union of Journalists.

“NUJ shooters launch London Photographers’ Branch” – British Journal of Photography.

The inaugural meeting of the first ever London Photographers’ Branch (LPB) of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) last week was an historic moment. It was great to see the room packed out with photographers from across London and yours truly was elected secretary.

The branch aims to reach out to as many photographers as possible to address the issues we face today. The collapse of the commission market, the fall in picture rates & library percentages, job cuts, questions of ethics, safety and press freedom.

The branch will be tackling all these over the next year but most importantly this is a branch run by photographers, for photographers – it will be member led. Every individual member, staff, freelance and contract will have an equal say.

This is our opportunity to shape the kind of union branch we need and tailor it to photographers’ needs across the sector.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 23 February 2010 at 6pm in Headland House.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 29.01.10. Anti-war protesters congregate outside the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre on Friday 29 January 2010 in London, England. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to be questioned for six hours by the inquiry – lead by Sir John Chilcot – on the United Kingdom decision to invade Iraq. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2010.

Link: Click here to view more pictures. Click here to view the slideshow.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! – photographernotaterrorist.org

“Press Clippings: I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!” – marcvallee.co.uk

Grant Smith and yours truly being interviewed on BBC News 24 in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 23 January 2010 before 3,000 photographers congregated for the “I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!” Mass Photo Gathering event.

Pictures: “Mass Photography Demonstration Against Police Stop & Search Powers” – gettyimages.com

Here are a few of the better press clippings I have found of the 3,000 strong I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! event in Trafalgar Square yesterday. It is a shame that the BBC News 24 broadcast is not up online as I have been told it was pretty good. Feel free to let me know of anything I have missed that is worth taking a look at. It was great to see so many photographers in one place – until next time!

“Photographers protest against police stop and search” – The Guardian.

“Photographers protest over UK terror search laws” – BBC News.

“Snappers Protest Over Police Search Powers” – Sky News.

“Photographers protest UK terror law” – CNN.

“Photographers protest in Trafalgar Square” – ITN News.

“Photographers protest against police use of anti-terror laws” – Daily Telegraph

A few of the 3,000 strong I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! photographers go for some light refreshments after the event. Picture published here by kind permission of the Unknown Snapper.

Link.

Media Release: “Mass Photo Gathering in Defence of Street Photography” – photographernotaterrorist.org

“We’re photographers, not terrorists” – Marc Vallée, The Guardian.

Looking forward to seeing you all later today!

Publications: Front cover of Cultures Of Resistance magazine, Winter 2009/2010. Link. (PDF)

Above is a tearsheet of the front cover of Cultures Of Resistance magazine – my 2005 picture of a Hizb ut-Tahrir protest (below) was used on both the front a back of the magazine.

The magazine has a very interesting feature article on the government’s Preventing Violent Extremism programme (Prevent) which my picture goes with. Prevent we are told is a “community-led approach to tackling violent extremism” but Arun Kundnani makes the case it has in effect become “the government’s Islam Policy” and that it’s not working – well worth a read.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 10.12.05. Members of Hizb ut-Tahrir – a right-wing Islamists political party – demonstrate on Satuardy 10 December 2005 in London, England. The demonstration was called to protest against anti-terror laws and other government proposals which they claim attack all Muslims. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2005.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.02.09. Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 in London, England. The event, called by the National Union of Journalists, marked the enforcement date of section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which could prevent the media and public from taking pictures of the police . (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

“Photographers unite to tackle avalanche” – National Union of Journalists.

Today I transferred my NUJ membership over to the new London Photographers’ Branch (LPB) and I’m looking forward to the inaugural meeting in just under two weeks time. If you are an NUJ member – full, temporary or student – and a photographer or lens based journalists “who lives in London or who carries out the majority of their work for clients based in London” then this is the NUJ Branch for you.

Below is a media release from the NUJ HQ about the new branch and how to join.

NUJ Media Release: Photographers unite to tackle avalanche

You don’t have to go to the Alps to experience an avalanche, photographers in every sector of the media have experienced an avalanche of jobs cuts, picture rate cuts, pay freezes and unprecedented workloads.

Media companies blame the recession and an inability to find a way to monetise content online – but they have been whittling away jobs, picture rates and conditions for years.

Photographers in London are coming together to form a new NUJ branch for freelance, staff and agency photographers to unite and defend photographers’ rights and terms and conditions.

The London Photographers’ Branch will hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, January 26th, at 6pm in the union’s head office, Headland House.

Membership of the Branch is open to any NUJ photographer who lives in London or who carries out the majority of their work for clients based in London.

To transfer your membership to the new Branch, you should contact the NUJ Membership Department at paulg@nuj.org.uk before January 26th.

NUJ President Pete Murray said: “This new branch is a really exciting development bringing together those who have for many years campaigned hard for the rights of photographers. The launch of the branch will boost the effectiveness of such work and give it the profile it deserves in the industry and in the union”.

Link.

Sabotage Audio – beastieboys.com

Sabotage Video – beastieboys.com

It’s no secret that I’m a big Beastie Boys fan. Sabotage is one of my favourites. Raw energy, passion and lyrics that still hit hard – what more could you ask for? Enjoy!

Sabotage lyrics

I can’t stand it, I know you planned it
I’m gonna set it straight, this Watergate
I can’t stand rocking when I’m in here
Cause your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear

So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this fucking thorn in my side
Oh my God, it’s a mirage
I’m tellin’ y’all, it’s a sabotage

So, so, so, so listen up ’cause you can’t say nothin’
You’ll shut me down with a push of your button?
But you, I’m out and I’m gone
I’ll tell you now, I keep it on and on

Cause what you see you might not get
And we can bet, so don’t you get souped yet
You’re scheming on a thing that’s a mirage
I’m trying to tell you now, it’s sabotage

Why
Our backs are now against the wall?
Listen all y’all, it’s a sabotage
Listen all y’all, it’s a sabotage
Listen all y’all, it’s a sabotage
Listen all y’all, it’s a sabotage

I can’t stand it, I know you planned it
I’m gonna set it straight, this Watergate
Lord, I can’t stand rockin’ when I’m in this place
Because I feel disgrace because you’re all in my face

But make no mistakes and switch up my channel
I’m Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle
What could it be, it’s a mirage
You’re scheming on a thing, that’s sabotage

LUTON, UNITED KINGDOM – 04.01.10. A Conservative Party general election billboard – with party leader David Cameron on it – in Luton, Bedfordshire on Monday 4 January 2010. Eric Pickles – Chairman of the Conservative Party – joined local party members in Luton as David Cameron launched the Party’s health manifesto in London. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2010.

Link: Click here to view more pictures. Click here to view the slideshow.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

LUTON, UNITED KINGDOM – 04.01.10. A Conservative Party general election billboard – with party leader David Cameron on it – in Luton, Bedfordshire on Monday 4 January 2010. Eric Pickles – Chairman of the Conservative Party – joined local party members in Luton as David Cameron launched the Party’s health manifesto in London. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2010.