Foreign Policy Magazine To Run Photo Essays

Foreign Policy magazine has created a new outlet for serious photojournalism with the launch of a regular photo essay feature called "Wide Angle."

The Washington, D.C.-based bimonthly will devote four to six pages in each issue to a photo story of global significance, beginning with its 35th anniversary issue that hits newsstands today.

"I fundamentally believe that there are some stories that are best told through images," says Foreign Policy managing editor William Dobson.

The first photo essay is a series called "A Trail of Diamonds" by photographer Kadir van Lohuizen, who followed the path of the diamond trade around the world.

For his photos, van Lohuizen visited mines in Africa, traders in Europe, gem processors in India, and retailers in Europe and North America. The photos will run with captions, but minimal text beyond that.

Dobson says van Lohuizen's photo essay exemplifies the sort of global story that Foreign Policy looks for, showing the interconnectedness of the world.

"It's very rare to find a project that spans so many places and so many different countries," Dobson says.

Foreign Policy declined to disclose what it pays for photographs, saying it varies depending on the project. But Dobson said the magazine thought carefully before deciding to incur the extra costs and turn over several pages each issue to photographs.

Dobson says the magazine is already more graphical than its text-heavy peers, with color photos and more eye-catching layouts.

He also says the magazine was being selective about which photo essays it chooses, since it can only run one in each issue.

"We have to be very, very picky about it. You only have six chambers in your gun," he says.


Photographers can send photos for consideration to Foreign Policy art director Travis Daub, care of Foreign Policy, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036