In June 2020, a single photograph taken by Misan Harriman at a Black Lives Matter protest went viral — shared by Martin Luther King III and seen by millions across the world. Almost overnight, Misan went from self-taught photographer to becoming the first Black male cover photographer in British Vogue’s history.
In this conversation with Alice Aedy for Visionaries, Misan reflects on the image that changed his life, the role of protest photography in shaping culture, and the responsibility of storytellers to capture truth and legacy.
This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at MPB.
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Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction: The Photo That Changed Everything
- 00:02:25 The Black Lives Matter Image: Darcy Bourne
- 00:05:53 Finding Inspiration: The Masters of Photography
- 00:08:14 The First Black Man to Shoot British Vogue's September Cover
- 00:10:15 What Happens When Opportunity Comes
- 00:11:38 Picking Up the Camera at 40
- 00:12:40 Neurodiversity as a Superpower
- 00:17:04 Intersectional Issues
- 00:21:00 From Recruitment to Photography
- 00:22:14 Documenting Protests and Student Movements
- 00:25:35 Navigating Celebrity and Activism
- 00:29:30 Building Trust Through Vulnerability
- 00:31:46 Misan on Fatherhood
- 00:36:47 Hope in a Time of Reset
- 00:42:06 The Cost of Speaking Out
- 00:39:41 Misan's Advice for Storytellers
Visionaries with Alice Aedy
Producer - Chloe Puttock
Art Director - Liliana Saldanha
Director - Issey Rider
Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey
Lighting - Al Rice
Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani
Colour Grade - Jasper Brown
Music by the talented Jon Hopkins
