Magazine 2/2010 - Emma

Content is everythingEMMA – Magazine ofthe Espoo Museumof Modern ArtNext issueSeptember 2010PUBLISHEREMMA – EspooMuseum of Modern ArtEDITOR-IN-CHIEFLeena JoutsenniemiEDITORIAL BOARDAri Karttunen,Päivi Karttunen,Nana Salin,Päivi TalasmaaENGLISH TRANSLATIONMichael Wynne-EllisLAYOUT Station MIR OyPRINTERSArtPrint OyEdition: 25000 copiesChange in address,orders (gratis)and feedback:info@emma.museumContact informationon back cover.My exhibition ”Photographer Caj Bremer” at the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinkiis over. The outcome of four years of preparatory work was an unforgettableexperience. It was tremendously popular, with 60 thousand visitors, and a wonderfultribute to me and my pictures, but also to photography in general.Photography these days is divided into numerous different branches and directions,and there are countless differing outlooks. Simultaneously there has been a revolutionarychange in photographic technique. The highly sophisticated technology available totoday’s photographers allows them to do anything.For many, the word photographer no longer suffices. You have to tag on such wordsas free, art, documentary or journalist to give the correct classification. Some just callthemselves artists. Perhaps photo artist is nearer the mark?For young photographers like the EMMA Prize finalists the way forward is wideopen. Many have taken up photography full time and work as freelancers. They participatein competitions and exhibit their works in galleries and art museums. Some succeed,others don’t. Competition for recognition is tough, you always have to be thinkingup new ideas and subjects.I’ve often been asked what makes a good photograph and my answer is always thesame: content. Whatever camera it’s been taken with, whatever the technique usedor the enthusiasm involved, the picture has to say something. You have to create thecontent yourself; technique alone doesn’t help.In my exhibition I saw many laughing,smiling, contemplative and serious faces.My days were filled with guiding all kinds of groups around and in doing so I tried togive a colourful account of the stories behind the pictures. Apparently I was successfulbecause people were generous in expressing their thanks not only for the guidance,but also for the photos and the exhibition as a whole.My experience shows that there is still sufficient interest in the traditional documentaryphotograph. Fictional art photography may have its own appeal, but whether thistrend survives is another story. It seems that people would also like to see contemporaryhistory documented. Who will photograph ordinary life today?Caj BremerPhotographerPatron of the EMMA Prize 2010 competition3