Photojournalists bear witness at the front line of human experience. But when does photojournalism become exploitative?

Granta’s February art salon will open with a presentation of Julie, a photo essay by Darcy Padilla featured in Granta 122: Betrayal and a dramatic reading of an extract of Padilla’s journal about her work. Julie is a devastating portrait of a woman living with Aids and struggling with motherhood after a lifetime of abuse and addiction. From a first encounter at a flophouse in San Francisco to the end of Julie’s life in Alaska, these photographs and Padilla’s reflections show how trust and exploitation mingle between artist and subject.

Looking at Julie and selections from the photojournalism featured in Granta since 1979, Granta artistic director Michael Salu, photographer Afshin Dehkordi (BBC, Granta, artistic consultant to the Brighton Photo Fringe and festival director of Bread & Roses Centennial)and Daniel Campbell Blight (writer, curator and talks assistant at the Photographers’ Gallery) will explore the relationship between subject and photographer, the cultural and social significance of controversial imagery and the responsibility the media should take when selecting images for publication.

RSVP essential. Please email publicist Saskia Vogel, svogel@granta.com to reserve a place.