In 2019 11 other photographers and I founded AFIJ, the Associazione Fotografi Italiani di Jazz.
The Association assumes that photography is a fundamental part of overall jazz culture.
Images have always told the stories of jazz, often better than many words.
All of us know the history of jazz and the music from the images that illustrate it. Photographers including Herman Leonard, William Claxton, Francis Wolff and William Gottlieb created a historical iconography that is essential testimony to understand the hundred-year evolution of this musical culture.
Our Association was founded with the belief that teamwork is necessary to give new energy to our community, to carry out collective projects, to create a new way of understanding jazz photography, as well as reaching out to young photographers who intend to face the activity of photographer with seriousness, dignity and spirit of collaboration.
We jazz photographers also firmly believe in the need to team up to restore dignity to the role of the photographer within the world of jazz and overall media and communications environment — dignity that has been lost over years, often due to reasons that have nothing to do with photographers’ skills or the quality of their work.
From 2019 to today the number of members of the Association is increased. There are now about 50, from Friuli to Sicily. We have obtained good results from initiatives like group exhibitions, an annual competition for young photographers, and requests for more rights for photographers at festivals.
Relations with associates and associations in the Italian world of jazz (those of the festivals, musicians and labels) have improved. Respect for the rights of the photographer and their work has improved too.
AFIJ has become a point of reference for all photographers who want information on rights and how to photograph the world of jazz.
Ed – Should such a photographers’ cadre develop itself within the JJA?
Email President@JazzJournalists.org
