Building empathy through deep and intentional photojournalism (interview with josué rivas of natives photograph)
Josué Rivas (@josue_foto) is the founder of Natives Photograph (@ntvsphotograph) and a visual storyteller and educator working at the intersection of art, journalism, and social justice. He's been a long-time collaborator of youth climate activist and hip hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, and his work aims to challenge the mainstream narrative about Indigenous peoples, build awareness around issues affecting Native communities across Turtle Island and be a visual messenger for those in the shadows of our society.
In this podcast episode, Josué sheds light on what the lack of diversity in our media newsrooms has meant for our public discourse and understanding of underrepresented communities; how intentional photojournalism and storytelling can help us build empathy for one another as fellow humans, rather than perpetuate stereotypes or cause divide; and more.
To start, get a glimpse below into the conversation between Josué and Green Dreamer Podcast's host, Kamea Chayne.
Musical feature: Trust The Sun by Power to Change by Luna Bec
“When it comes to the way we make images and use these tools, such as photography, videography, and virtual reality, we have to be mindful of it. There’s a difference between making something with somebody and just taking something from somebody.”
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This is a conversation on Green Dreamer with Kamea Chayne, a podcast and multimedia journal illuminating our paths towards ecological balance, intersectional sustainability, and true abundance and wellness for all. This preview has been edited for clarity. Subscribe to Green Dreamer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or any podcast app to stay informed and updated on our latest episodes.
On being a responsible photographer:
“There’s a responsibility we have now that we can’t overlook anymore because these tools [of image making] are so accessible to everybody.
For instance, there was this man passed out on the street—probably high—and there was this really beautiful lighting falling on him. As a photographer, I noticed that the use of the lighting, at that moment, without me even touching it, was beautiful.
But then I thought: I won’t document it, because what about this person? I should talk to this person and figure out if they're okay instead of thinking that it would be a great image for Instagram.
And people do that kind of stuff, thinking, 'regardless of what happens, I want my photos to be the best.’
But what about the people in that image?"
On building empathy and finding the humanity in one another:
“The intersection of environmentalism, social justice, and art is very relevant right now. But it’s a human thing. Why don’t we make that intersection humanity?
It has nothing to do with political parties, religious views, or anything else. Can we create spaces where one of the intersections is:
‘I’m a human being; you’re a human being as well. Let’s take care of each other?’”
On being mindful of the people being photographed:
“When it comes to the way we make images and use these tools, such as photography, videography, and virtual reality, we have to be mindful of it.
We can’t just be wild and free; we have to be careful. And that really relates to how we approach making images. There’s a difference between making something with somebody and just taking something from somebody."
Final words of wisdom:
"Don’t stop dreaming—that’s one thing that I do on a daily basis. There are a lot of creators right now pushing boundaries and who have been pushing boundaries for a long time.
For me, it’s important to not stop dreaming so we can keep that hope going that this is going to be a better world. I truly believe it is, and we're seeing the tipping point of that.
Let’s hope and let's keep dreaming, because that’s what is going to keep us alive."
