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GRADUATE
PHOTOGRAPHY
ONLINE 2016

BA Selectors:

Angela Glienicke, Picture Editor

Greenpeace UK

www.greenpeace.org.uk

Introducing the Selectors for the BA Phase of Graduate Photography Online 2016: we talk to Angela Glienicke, Picture Editor at Greenpeace.

What is your core role in the job that you do?

My role as picture editor at Greenpeace UK involves various tasks; I commission and brief photographers for Greenpeace campaigns, edit and distribute photos as well as write blogs for our website. I also conduct external picture research and look after our photographic equipment. As part of the photo and video team I work closely with other departments like fundraising or mobilization.

How did you make your way into the career you're now in? Did you always want to work in a field that involved photography?

After graduating from university I started training and working at photo press agency 'action press' in Hamburg, Germany. I moved to Rex Features in London, where I stayed for a couple of years. I have always been interested in environmental issues, journalism and working in the field of photo journalism.

How do you decide on what makes an interesting photograph or photographic project?

For a campaigning organisation like ours it is always very important to have strong images that tell a story, whether it is by bearing witness to environmental issues or by documenting direct action. The biggest challenge is to create something interesting out of a boring set up, so a photographer who uses their creativity and imagination and manages to shoot an inspiring, unusual image of someone just holding up a banner is the type of artist we are looking for. If you are able to create a photograph that catches people's attention with very little props to work with, then you will probably do well in a spectacular environment like the Arctic.

As regards the artist's statement, what is important for you to know about the work?

Many of our photographers come from a press photography background, because the documentation of our activities has a fast turn around. Past examples of creative story telling as well as the ability to send those images to us promptly are vital.

What advice would you have for someone interested in working in your area of photography?

You need to have a real passion and interest in the work of the organisation you are working for and be creative whilst following the brief. You also need to be a good team player. It is important to keep up to date with technological developments and maybe also have some skills in video shooting and editing as in some situations you might get asked to do both.

Do you foresee any significant developments in the role of photography in relation to your field of work?

The use of drone footage and photos enables us to document the extent of environmental disasters, like the massive forest fires in Indonesia. New ways of communicating our campaigns are exploring the use of 360° photography and working with multimedia slideshows.