On Assignment
Navigating the Media Industry
On Assignment: e-books now available
On Assignment continues as two e-books aimed at emerging photographers in need of practical advice to advance their (commercial) career. The handbooks put together the practical tips and tricks, extracted from the talks and workshops, ready to use for your reference or inspiration into the themes.
Talk: Navigating the Media Industry - Media Perspective
In this first talk, the challenges and ethical dilemmas of working on assignments - as well as broader systemic issues - are explored through two vantage points: the individual and the photo-media industry at large.
Moderation by Aaron Schuman (photographer, writer, teacher). Speakers include Laura Summerton (Photography Manager, WaterAid), David Barreda (Diversify Photo & Senior Photo Editor National Geographic), Emma Bowkett (Director of Photography Financial Times Magazine) and Alex Majoli (Magnum, Cesura).
Online exhibition:
On Social Documentary Photography
What is the role of the photographer on assignment?
In this second talk in the series, we sit down with a selection of photographers who are at different stages in their careers. They consider these ethical dilemmas in relation to the role of the photographer on assignment today, as well as the responsibilities of the individual when working on commissions.
Moderation by Aaron Schuman (photographer, writer, teacher). Speakers include Myriam Boulos (photographer, Lebanon), Bieke Depoorter (photographer, Belgium) and Rahim Fortune (photographer, United States).
In Practice: Resources for Photographers on Assignment
Who has the power to decide which photographers get particular resources and opportunities? What are the ethical dilemmas around commissions and assignments? We highlight a few industry resources that provide practical advice for photographers who are trying to navigate the territory between their own practice and the media industry at large.
Open for Business - Magnum Photographers on Commission has been developed in collaboration with Magnum Photos Paris and the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation. It is curated by Anne-Marie Beckmann, Director Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, and Mirjam Kooiman, curator of Foam.
In 2022 Foam receives additional support from the Mondriaan Fund and receives a contribution through the Mondriaan Fund from the Ministerie van OCW.