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Importance of Ethics in Photography & Journalism?
https://photographylife.com/the-importa … hotography ------------------------------------------------------------------- The disturbing true story of the Afghan Girl photo https://www.facebook.com/NorthrupPhotog … 767503493/ Afghan Girl Follow-up: Corrections, sources & answers https://www.facebook.com/NorthrupPhotog … 1511220824 Mar 12 19 06:21 am Link Interesting Thanks for sharing Mar 12 19 07:58 am Link Many issues wrapped up in that. I think one is that today we see a much larger emphasis placed on people's "right" to always feel comfortable, where I think in the past there was a greater emphasis placed on principles of justice, freedom of speech, etc. As the second video indicates, in the end the woman was happy her photo was taken and raised awareness, even though it made her uncomfortable at that time. I think we need to be careful about judging past events by modern day standards. I think it's also important to keep in mind this is an area of the world where people are being stoned to death in the streets without trial, where people are having their hands cut off based on an unproven accusation of theft and where people are being beheaded for a number or reasons, these events often being staged specifically for the purpose of being recorded. It seems to me feeling uncomfortable pales in comparison to such events. We can certainly find examples of people in western countries who have felt very uncomfortable due to the presence of photojournalists. I think balancing rights such as rights of privacy against rights like freedom of the press will long be issues worthy of debate and discussion. Mar 12 19 08:45 am Link Meanwhile Facebook, Google, Amazon and others are tracking your every purchase, your every visit (including medical) etc. and gathering data about you. There are surveillance cameras in retail outlets, gas stations, supermarkets, casinos, everywhere. When I set up my phone I did not allow access to the internet and turned off every Google function I could find. I don't think you can turn the microphone off but you can keep your phone in a lower pocket instead of up by your face. Everybody has a cell phone and if you are in proximity or somebody tags you on Facebook using their phone, that is added to the record. My laptop microphone is turned all the way down. The camera has a small piece of tape over it. I do use the internet at home and I do get ads targeting previous purchases on there. "They" are watching - 24-7-365. In some ways they know more about you than you do! Mar 12 19 09:05 am Link Good stuff, substantial food for thought. Just more reminders that we're surrounded by information-products selling ideology. It's always been that way, but the ethical considerations are now more important than ever, because the consequences can no longer be avoided or merely dismissed. Mar 12 19 11:49 am Link Abbitt Photography wrote: 2 things in response .... Mar 12 19 01:34 pm Link There are those that will take the shot and win Pulitzer Prizes....., AND there are those that will NEVER win the Pulitzer because they were TOO timid and respectful to take the shot!!! Mar 12 19 08:56 pm Link John Silva Photography wrote: And there are those who take the shot . win the Pulitzer Prize and commit suicide later ( haunted by what they saw . guilt ridden for not having helped in the situation ) Mar 13 19 01:00 am Link Garry k wrote: Yes, I realize things are different in that part of the world, but that's not my point. My point is photojournalists cover things that are far, far worse and have far greater consequences than someone feeling uncomfortable. Another example is a photo journalist who films or photographs someone severely injured rather than rendering life saving assistance. Mar 13 19 09:54 am Link Abbitt Photography wrote: So You really think that at the time - she said having her picture taken made her feel "uncomfortable " My guess it that she didnt speak any English and that was what the Translator told the Photographer or what the Photographer himself intrepreted Mar 14 19 11:19 pm Link Garry k wrote: Garry, again, I understand she was uncomfortable in the presence of the photojournalist and I never claimed it was unreasonable for her to be uncomfortable in his presence. Garry k wrote: Personally, I would be a poor photojournalist for similar reasons. Mar 16 19 11:03 am Link People do realize that such a photo would not be allowed to be taken in the West ? Yes National Geographic does require Personal Release Forms signed by the Subject ( if they are recognizable in the photo ) and of course with a girl of this age a Parents signature would be requred So ? Mar 16 19 11:16 am Link Garry k wrote: Photojournalism photos used for editorial and news use typically do not require a model release. (1) at least not in the U.S. Magazines and other publications frequently publish photos of people and tell stories with no model release. Pick up any news stand tabloid and you will find photo after photo of people who's photo was taken without their permission, without a release and often in ways that clearly make the subject uncomfortable. To say this could never happen in the west, is simply not true, it happens all the time. Mar 16 19 11:59 am Link Abbitt Photography wrote: Yet even the National Geographic Site speaks of the Need for Release to be signed by the Subject of the Photographer Mar 16 19 02:31 pm Link Garry k wrote: All that says is that people who submit photos may be asked to provide a model release form, and of course for some purposes, a model release is required. The link does not however state that news or editorial work must have a release, and it doesn't say their photographers routinely obtain releases. The other problem of course is you are referring to a current policy, when the photo in question was taken decades ago. Mar 16 19 05:48 pm Link exploited not discriminated against And Who is the better judge of that ? The Subject or ? Mar 16 19 06:35 pm Link The ethics of journalism regarding photos is more difficult than the ethics of journalism. There seem to be plenty of examples of today's journalists and news providers disregarding ethics. Especially those that are outside of the mainstream, and some inside of the mainstream, because they lack the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability. It is more propaganda than journalism. "While various existing codes have some differences, most share common elements including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability, as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalis … _standards In photojournalism, these criteria are veiled because a photograph can stand on it's own and is subject to the interpretation of the viewer who does not have the ability to parse the photo as one would a story made of words and phrases. If a photograph captures a moment in time, does it illustrate the biases of the photographer? There is some discussion in the OP's link about cropping a photo, resulting in a different telling of the story, but cropping a photo in and off itself, should not be an indication of a lack of ethics. Even if I am trying to create my image, as much as possible in camera, I am still going to back out before taking the shot because the camera results in a 2x3 image and I may want the final image to be just about any other ratio, so I would need the space to accomplish that. Also, any framing of any photo, in camera, is still a crop on the real world. If a journalist leaves out or embellishes or a falsifies an article, we may learn of it through conflicting reports or from additional sources. Even though the damage may already be done. Likewise, we depend on the photojournalist to provide "the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability" when providing the context of a photo. I think back to images from Vietnam. The little girl after a napalm attack or the individual being executed in the street by an officer- without the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability, these photos could mean nearly anything. Mar 16 19 07:38 pm Link If a photojournalist takes an un-orchestrated photograph of an Afghan girl wearing a veil, then this may easily be accepted as being a news picture. However, I would hope that a photo-journalist who orchestrates the taking of a portrait photograph, would be committed to showing respect and behaving appropriately. Asking a female child, or adult, to remove their veil in order to take their portrait may impinge their subjects cultural, traditional and religious beliefs. Mar 16 19 09:21 pm Link life is uncomfortable - let's go shopping. Apr 29 19 08:10 pm Link Camera Buff wrote: I wouldn't put much faith in what Tony says. He got drilled and debunked for that display of character smearing. His second video was also lacking a proper apology if you notice. Apr 30 19 05:44 pm Link |
