It's taken from a story on baseball in the Dominican Republic, whose cheer charm proves that classic photojournalism has lost none of its appeal. But Lunatic is anything but traditional. Launched by photographer Karl Blanchet in 2007 in the face of declining mainstream media commissions, it was an idea ahead of its time. BJP caught up with Blanchet to find out more.

BJP: Why did you set up Lunatic?
Karl: Lunatic was created to give the opportunity to photojournalists who created original stories to publish their work. Too much high quality work remains unpublished and most photojournalist work has a classical approach often chronological and narrative. Many features can be treated from an aesthetically and narratively original perspective. Lunatic is about discovering the individual who is behind the camera. The relationship with the photographer is very important. Photographers are generous and sensitive people. This is what I want our readers to feel.

BJP: Why did you decide to make the magazine bi-annual?
Karl: Lunatic is currently managed by people who are committed enough to offer their expertise for free. We would like to publish it on a more frequent basis if we had the financial means. This is why Lunatic is currently looking for sponsors.

BJP: How do you find the stories you include in it?
Karl: We receive two to three stories every day, and we search online for stories we like. We can't reply to everybody but we do check every link photographers send us.

BJP: How have you attracted readers?
Karl: Lunatic is promoted through blogs, personal and professional networks and by national newspapers and radio stations throughout Western Europe. Our Facebook group is also a good way of informing our readers. The internet is our main source of publicity and this has meant that we have an extremely diverse audience.

BJP: The internet environment has radically evolved since you launched Lunatic – especially with the launch of the iPad and the ubiquity of the iPhone. How has this affected you?
Karl: Lunatic needs to catch up with the recent evolution of technology but for us the internet has meant we can reach so many people around the world.

BJP: Some commentators feel the popularity of digital media means that photography will give way to moving image and multimedia presentations. Has photography had it?
Karl: Photography evolves and I think that multimedia is a great way of add to this art. I really think that every photographer is in a way a filmmaker. Multimedia is the tool that makes these two forms of art compatible and indistinguishable.

BJP: Is your magazine a sign of the times? eg photojournalists are finding it harder and harder to get their work published in mainstream media, or to get paid for their work, so they are turning to alternatives.
Karl: I am amazed and sad to see all of us suffer from the crisis. Our images are sold for the price of fruit while technological investments are more and more expensive. Much talent is not valued and that is really sad. Lunatic can't pay photographers, but we have succeeded in selling at least half of the stories to magazines. My dream is to find enough sponsors to be able to buy the features we publish.