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In this special episode from Kenya, Muazzam Mir speaks to Salim Amin, son of the late Mohamed Amin, at his home in Nairobi, about his father’s legacy & the remarkable achievements of his career as a photojournalist. They talk about his work on the Ethiopian famine, that raised awareness and an outpouring of charity across the world, eventually leading to the Live Aid concerts. They also discuss the ethics of photojournalism, and the ways in which the profession has changed in the smartphone era.
Salim Amin is Chairman of Camerapix, and founder and Chairman of The Mohamed Amin Foundation. He has been in the media industry for 30 years as a photographer, cameraman, producer, presenter and trainer and has won numerous awards for his documentary work.
What We Talk About In This Episode
- Mohamed Amin: his background, how he became a photographer
- Working in an environment without privilege: how he made it work
- His portrayal of East African people in his photography
- His work as a photojournalist and how he lost his arm
- How photojournalism has changed with new technology and social media
- The unique access Mohamed Amin was given to photograph important world events, often ahead of white photographers
- Idi Amin
- Why Mohamed Amin was banned from entering Pakistan
- His coffee table book on the armed forces of Pakistan, commissioned by Zia ul Haq
- How he worked with people of all backgrounds and classes
- Question of consent in photojournalism
- Copyright laws in Africa; lawsuit against Safari Com
- Ethics and photography
- Mohamed Amin’s work on the Ethiopian famine
People / Things Mentioned in this Episode
- Journey through Pakistan (1982) book
- Biography: the story of Mohammed Amin. Frontline cameraman (2013)
- Duncan Willetts
- Al Jazeera documentary: Mo & Me
- The vulture and the little girl also known as “The Struggling Girl” photograph by Kevin Carter
Further reading
- Books by Mohamed Amin:
- Journey through Pakistan (1982)
- Journey of a Lifetime (1978)
- Defenders of Pakistan (1988)
- The Roof of the World (1989)
- The Last of the Maasai (1987)
- Journey Through Jordan (1994)
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