Wednesday 8 May 2013

The Documentary Photographer Podcast – Episode 14: Christian Payne – Photography with a Conscience



This is a special episode of the podcast. So special that it's being released ahead of the usual slot and before another interview that was already in the queue.

The reason is twofold.

First the photographer interviewed is a remarkable man who went out of his way (and possibly into harm's way) to tell a remarkable story: Christian Payne.

Online, many know Christian as Documentally, a storyteller who uses multiple online platforms to tell his own story and that of his clients. He does exciting things for interesting clients. I first became aware of him when he travelled from Land's End to John o' Groats (the UK's famed tip-to-top journey) with nothing but online airtime to offer those who gave him rides, shelter and food.

That alone should give you an idea of the person he is. He does things most of us wouldn't.
One thing he did very recently was travel to Turkey and Syria. He wanted to find out first hand how the war was affecting regular Syrians – people like you and me. 

In this interview, recorded only a couple of days after he got back, you'll hear of his experiences – some of which were disturbing and harrowing.

Christian isn't a hardened news or war photographer who spends lots of time on the ground in conflict zones. That's what makes his story even more powerful. He is a regular guy whose conscience made him team up with a journalist friend (Phil Sands) to see for himself what is going on away from the news agenda of the big media outlets.

The second reason why this interview is special is that it will have a follow on. Something good will happen because of the work Christian has done. You'll hear reference to that at the end of the episode. I'm hoping you and I can help raise money for the refugees in Syria. It's early stages yet, but watch this space.


Five-year-old Sultan ©2013 Christian Payne

Links and more info


Christian's main website
Hayat for Syria (the organisation that helped Christian get into Syria)

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