Jeff Wall and Roy Arden Debate Art Photography vs Photojournalism

In a discussion published by artpress, photographers Jeff Wall and Roy Arden review the works and artistic approaches of their favorite photographers: Walker Evans, Wols, Atget, Weegee, Heinrich Zille, and others. They distinguish between photography as an act of reportage and the institution of photojournalism, arguing that the latter does not offer the medium its best expression. Both agree on the unpredictability of photographic work and the opportunity to approach reportage from an aesthetic point of view through meaning. They debate the dignity of photography, the concern for technique, and the difficult balance between utilitarian demands and the desire to create free from external constraints.