Mission Statement
In the noise of the crowd, the individual's voice gets lost. Yet every individual has their own, personal reasons for what they do, the experiences and hopes that have led them to the point they are now. It's these stories that form the basis of the Visual Voice Project.
An oft-debated ethical dilemma among journalists, especially photojournalists, is the idea that our biases can distort, taint, or otherwise misrepresent the people whose stories we are attempting to tell. A picture can lie, a quote can be taken out-of-context.
The solution, then, is to let you tell your own story in your own voice.
The Visual Voice Project aims to combine powerful photography with your story told in a way only you can tell it. Speak your truth and the world will listen.
Together, we can visualize your voice.
Our Values
Be Authentic
Authenticity is at the heart of what we do. Without it, our stories lack credibility, and without credibility our stories are worth less than nothing - they become actively harmful.
Do Good
According to Carl Sagan, we are the sum of our influence on others. To that end, we seek only to do good and help create positive change the in the world. Our work is never to be used for attack or offense, but rather to promote greater understanding and peace.
Represent
Diversity of thought, background, lifestyle, and experience is key to understanding each other and the world we inhabit. When we travel the same roads every day, we never discover the hidden treasures in our own neighborhoods; likewise if we never take the time to consider others' experiences, we will forever be stuck in a single, narrow lane of thought.
What is a PHoto Documentary?
Photo documentaries combine the best of still photography and podcast interviews into a single cohesive project. The photographs allow you to linger upon the powerful, emotional images while the subject tells his or her story in their own voice, resulting in an intimate look into who they are and what makes them special. Every person's story is unique, and photo documentaries offer a one-of-a-kind way to experience life through another person's perspective.
The Technology
Photo Documentaries are created in Soundslides
Audio is edited in Audacity
Audio is recorded on a Zoom H1n
Photographs are taken on a Fujifilm GFX-50R
Photographs are edited in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic
The Artist
Brandon Iwamoto is a former newspaper and magazine photographer, whose photo credits include The Denver Post, The Loveland Reporter Herald, The Fort Collins Coloradoan, The Colorado Springs Gazette, The Longmont Times Call, and Asian Avenue Magazine.
Despite leaving behind newspaper photography, Brandon's belief in the power of a still image to tell a compelling story has never wavered. His first experiences in Photo Documentaries, then known as audio slideshows, was while covering the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. His past photo subjects have included numerous politicians such Barack Obama, Ron Paul, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Mike Huckabee. He has also photographed 6-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken, award-winning rapper Wiz Khalifa, and martial artist Chuck Norris, among others.
In his free time, Brandon runs a book club, collects Japanese Kit-Kats, cheering on the Colorado Avalanche, and drives his Miata on Colorado's mountain roads.