Is this photo ethical?

[virtualme78]

Chanced up on this article by Eric Kim. Interesting read imo.

http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/04/is-this-photo-ethical/

And this video by a photojournalist, Nathan Webber about the girl who was shot dead.
[video=vimeo;9902685]http://vimeo.com/9902685[/video]

 

[Benji77]

A resounding YES! from me. I say it could not be more ethical to write about this photograph. It takes alot of moral courage to bring up the issue surrounding it. To be able to stand firm for justice is what this photo is about.

 

[raytoei]

Not an easy answer. in 1971, many western journalists were in Bangladesh covering the war between East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan.

Many of the subsequent violence was put up as the crowd knew that the western media was present.

ie. Prisoners got bayonetted precisely because the photographers were there.

Is it ethical to take the photo ?

I got the above image from photobucket history of birth of bangladesh.
you can view the thread here:
http://joubonjatra.com/forums/showthread.php/35555-১৯৭১-কিছু-ছবি/page5

 

[iron symphony]

I believe that we as photographers have an olibgation to tell the truth of what goes on in the world. See it from this way, we provide the voice that is often silenced with our images. From the media, we have been constantly bombarded with violence, hatred and threatening actions all the time. Who is going to speak for this girl whose life was so full of potential but was denied because someone took it away? Put ethnics aside, let the images speak for themselves.

 

[virtualme78]

I, too felt that pictures of such nature act as a voice to other parts of the world calling out for awareness and help. However the other side of me felt that it is rather inhumane to first take picture of say, a dying person before offering some kind of help which could possibly save him from his very last breath.

 

[chocolateking123]

this issue was brought up in the form of a movie the bang bang club, should check it out seems kinda cool

 

[Benji77]

We've got to separate the act of the photograph from the action/event that takes place.
The photograph does not cause the incident, it merely showcases it.
The act did not happen because it was photographed.

The photograph was a 'reaction' that documents the event without altering the fact.

 

[virtualme78]

We can only buy The Bang Bang Club thru electronic means? Any link to recommend?

this issue was brought up in the form of a movie the bang bang club, should check it out seems kinda cool

 

[NazgulKing]

We've got to separate the act of the photograph from the action/event that takes place.
The photograph does not cause the incident, it merely showcases it.
The act did not happen because it was photographed.

The photograph was a 'reaction' that documents the event without altering the fact.

Erm, in this case what rayteoi is saying is that the events happened because the perpetrators knew the event was photographed.

We mustn't forget that images have been used for various propaganda purposes, and in some cases, they are used as a warning to others, or even as a threat.

 

[beyond]

Someone actually moved the body. No..not ethical.

 

[bayusuputra]

what is unethical is violence.. RIP to the girl.. I will still pray for her family for strength even though the event has been quite sometimes.. what happened to them is really hard..

But it's quite hard to justify whether the photographers are ethical or not.. In one side, they are doing their job, and they can't interfere with the situations.. but it is also hard for them if they are just watching there without being able to do something.. It's really between the heart and the brain if you get what i mean..

 

[Benji77]

Erm, in this case what rayteoi is saying is that the events happened because the perpetrators knew the event was photographed.

We mustn't forget that images have been used for various propaganda purposes, and in some cases, they are used as a warning to others, or even as a threat.

I understand the 'connection' that it implies. We need to set aside this thought as it is not the photographer who is acting out the actual mistake - Violence.
Ethics at this point in time is still against the act itself, not because the camera is present. Who are we to say that the act does not occur without a camera/recording device?

 

[edutilos-]

It's anyone's guess. Can you really measure the impact the photo had? Kevin Carter (Bang Bang Club) was criticized quite severely for his photograph in Africa of a starving girl who had fallen down. The catch was that there was a vulture gazing out nonchalantly and seeming to wait for the inevitable.

Some people said that he should not have taken the photograph when he could help the girl, or chase away the vulture. The other side of the fence says that the educational effect of his photograph owning to its huge psychological impact could help more people in Africa by inciting a flow of donations, etc.

 

[NazgulKing]

I understand the 'connection' that it implies. We need to set aside this thought as it is not the photographer who is acting out the actual mistake - Violence.
Ethics at this point in time is still against the act itself, not because the camera is present. Who are we to say that the act does not occur without a camera/recording device?

Ask the perpetrators?

 

[artspraken]

I cannot rent bang bang club from itunes coz i have no american credit card, and i cannot find bang bang club by any other means.

Ethics and photography only matter if you are a journalist. For an amateur hobbyist like me, the closest i get to an ethical conumdrum is where i tell people about the genre of street photography and people jump to conclusions that i am into upskirt candid peekabos.

 

[aomoon]

I cannot rent bang bang club from itunes coz i have no american credit card, and i cannot find bang bang club by any other means.

Ethics and photography only matter if you are a journalist. For an amateur hobbyist like me, the closest i get to an ethical conumdrum is where i tell people about the genre of street photography and people jump to conclusions that i am into upskirt candid peekabos.

Conflict photography takes a toll on the photographer as well. Even when shooting normal street photog, you will be psyched-up, into the zone ......more so when shooting conflict photos. It will be forever imprint into the sensor of your mind

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I think if I was there, 36 frames will be done in less than 10mins.

Yes, I will shoot.

 

[tcy81]

I cannot rent bang bang club from itunes coz i have no american credit card, and i cannot find bang bang club by any other means.

Ethics and photography only matter if you are a journalist. For an amateur hobbyist like me, the closest i get to an ethical conumdrum is where i tell people about the genre of street photography and people jump to conclusions that i am into upskirt candid peekabos.

Maybe can buy the book instead.

 

[chiif]

What is so unethical about taking photographs? The job of journalist is to document what's happening on the ground and show the rest of the world the brutality on the ground.

The photo on Mr Kim's web site showing photographers photographing the victim (already dead) might not be acceptable to many people, but this is exactly what photojournalist do most of the time.

It's not an easy job being a photojournalist, as one really needs to detach emotions from from the job. Which is almost impossible for me. I shoot depending on my mood. I cannot bring the camera to my eye level when I am emotional on the ground. But this is exactly what photojournalist are trained to perform on the ground... be totally impartial and report the facts on the ground.

An inspiring documentary about James Nachtwey says it all...

 

[Royale With Cheese]

What is so unethical about taking photographs? The job of journalist is to document what's happening on the ground and show the rest of the world the brutality on the ground.

The photo on Mr Kim's web site showing photographers photographing the victim (already dead) might not be acceptable to many people, but this is exactly what photojournalist do most of the time.

It's not an easy job being a photojournalist, as one really needs to detach emotions from from the job. Which is almost impossible for me. I shoot depending on my mood. I cannot bring the camera to my eye level when I am emotional on the ground. But this is exactly what photojournalist are trained to perform on the ground... be totally impartial and report the facts on the ground.

An inspiring documentary about James Nachtwey says it all...

+1
I agree!