BLOG/RANDOM REFLECTIONS

Blog is such an ugly word originally created by the American programmer Peter Merholz in 1997, apparently from the term weblog. The technical programming wizards of America’s Silicon Valley have much to answer for including distorting the English language!  So, in future, I have decided to use a much friendlier title, ‘Random Reflections’ borrowed from a good friend John Ayriss, who soon after my byline appeared in the Toronto Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, came to interview me for the column he wrote in a Canadian photographic magazine. I always thought his title ‘Random Reflections’ quite delightful. John, now departed this life, and I met shortly following my arrival in Toronto. 

So John, allow me to use your column title in memory of our long friendship. John was an enthusiastic photographer, very ‘proper’ by Canadian tradition, always dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie.  For a while we both used Nikon SP Rangefinder cameras until I changed to Leica M2’s.  John was always bringing me the latest lens or accessory to try.  So John, as I from time to time fashion my jottings in Random Reflections, it is in memory of you and the countless hours we spent chatting about the whacky world of photography. 

Shortly after the interview with John, I departed for the Belgian Congo - now the Republic of Congo - to photograph the civil war there.  Africa was changing.

Congo Crisis 1960-1965. 

With Independence from Belgium in 1960, Civil War erupted in the region.  With my knowledge of Africa, having lived there, I realised that this was my story.  Accredited to the Toronto Globe and Mail, and financed by Canadian sponsors, this was a radical decision by Canada’s national newspaper commissioning a photographer to not only cover a civil war, but also through my pictures and brief dispatches report on the end of Empire and Colonialism in Africa. My coverage of the Congo crisis was an undertaking fraught with uncertainty and danger.

United Nations troops patrol the eerily deserted main street in Leopoldville, Belgium Congo, During the war of Independence.

Note: the red markings were made by the Toronto Globe & Mail Newspaper for sizing.

The dangers of war.  John Robert Young luckily avoiding arrest.  

Note:  Taken from the publication in the Toronto Globe & Mail Newspaper.

Belgians fleeing from the war being escorted at the airport in Leopoldville by United Nations Troops to a waiting aircraft to airlift them to safety.

Local Congolese population waiting to board the ferry to escape the war.

Abandoned cafe in the centre of Leopoldville.

Mother and child are consoled by Canadian troops who are part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

Chaos at the hospital in Leopoldville, abandoned by fleeing Belgian doctors nurses and Nuns.

Note:  Crop Lines indicate how the photo was used.

Injured soldiers and civilians awaiting medical help from the  newly arrived doctors and nurses from over 102 countries.

Life carries on as normal on market day in Leopoldville despite war raging around them.

Youth however has a way of overlooking such things. Over a period of five months, I crisscrossed Africa and from the Congo flew west and interviewed Albert Schweitzer at his jungle leper hospital in Gabon. Flying south I then reported on colonial life in Southern Rhodesia where I was warned by the Director of Security that I could be deported for taking the wrong kind of pictures. Flying to Bechuanaland I then photographed Seretse and Ruth Khama. Both had been exiled from Britain due to their racially mixed marriage - Ruth Khama being white and at the time was also unacceptable to the Mangwato tribe.

Dr Albert Schweitzer, renowned medical missionary and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, at his hospital in Lambarene, Gabon. Note: Cover of the Toronto Globe & Mail Magazine. 

In the following months I documented life in South Africa, the beginnings of African Independence in Kenya, Zanzibar, followed by the effects of war in the streets of Algiers. where I was arrested by a passing army patrol. After confirming that I was indeed a journalist I was later invited to lunch in the officer’s mess.  On my return to Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum held an exhibition of my work entitled, ‘Africa Story.’  My agent Richard Kitchen arranged appearances on national television and radio where I discussed my many experiences in Africa.  At the time the word photojournalist was totally new to me, never having heard it before.  So when the presenter said something to the effect that I was one of the new breed of photographers, a photojournalist. Wondering how to reply, I recall saying vaguely: “Yes I suppose I am!”

1961: Exhibit ‘Africa Story’ at the Royal Ontario Museum.

My extensive coverage of Africa set in motion a complete revolution in the style of photography used at the Toronto Globe and Mail.  Dick Doyle, Managing Editor together with his Editors decided they wanted my more spontaneous approach to daily newspaper photography. My European reportage style had gained unanimous approval, and furthermore they enjoyed picture stories with selections of photographs to choose from on contact sheets.  This totally new approach was adopted. It was the end of an era.  The old fashioned single press picture taken with the ageing Speed Graphic camera was a thing of the past. Indeed, staff photographers were ‘persuaded’ to use 35mm cameras with wide angle and telephoto lenses.  Darkrooms were modernised with individual cubicles for photographers to process their films and Leitz Enlargers were purchased so high quality prints could be made from 35 mm film.  However, being responsible for innovation can have consequences which I will relate in a later Random Reflections.

Meanwhile, it was out with the old and in with the new at the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Telegram from R J Doyle, Managing Editor of the Toronto Globe & Mail Newspaper. He later became a Senator.