Entrants's Name: John Robinson

Country: South Africa

Field: Media/Communications

Innovation - idea: as a photographer i work along side ngo/npo organisations and by becoming a part of the organisation and so gaining in in depth understanding of their goals and core ideals. i then produce photographic images that tell thier story of change in their areas of involvment in the community in which they work.

Innovation - why it is pioneering: many photographers just take a brief from the client, rather then sugesting ideas that as a photographer will communicate the heart of the client's work. in this way images that work are produced rather then images that a person whos core focus is not images think will work. i combine my expertese with the client and so together we are able to tell a better story of change.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: i meet with the client we go through their publications and look at what is been produced so far. i must be sure that the ngo/npo is achually producing change in their field. i then suggest ideas from what information i gain from them, and my own experiance that will further their goals by making the public aware of the work that they have already done.

Strategy - growth plans: growth is slow. i meet with new clients as often as i am able, but a lack of funding on the clients side is often the blocking factor.

Impact to date: i have been able to gain new clients through this method of working. feedback has been positive and it is often through seeing the material produced that i am able to do the same for other organisations.

Future impact: i would have produced an archive of development images that have recorded an aspect of the reality of the projects that i have been involved with, and through these images the heart of the change will be recorded and also told to others and in so doing inspired others to work with the client and so multiply the development project.

Sustainability - resource base: self employed for 10 years, and relieing on ongoing work with ngo/npos, royalty sales of images, producing images for newspapers,

Major challenge for the field: the belief that producing images that work can just be done by the skilled and un skilled alike and a lack of funding for media projects such as these.

Contact Information:

Name: John Robinson
Mailing address: 13 leighton street pietermaritzburg 3201 south africa
Country: South Africa
Email: retina@icon.co.za
Tel: +27836547789
Fax: +27333424105
Website: www.southphoto.com