by Amy Weston/Wenn.com via NY Mag
To borrow a line from The Clash, “London’s burning”. And the photographs of the mayhem are stunning. The above shot here is by Amy Weston/WENN.com, as seen in NY Mag. (That image and a bunch more images from NY Mag here).
I’ve been been near riots of this magnitude on two occasions – Paris in 2005-6 and Seattle WTO riots – neither of which I photographed. I’ve also seen a guy get hit by a car and had my camera at the ready but did not shoot. And plenty of other things that I’ve not wanted to photograph. As a pure photographer, only-career-I’ve-ever-had guy, I’m not sure what’s in me that doesn’t pull me to want to shoot so many of these photos, even when I’ve had the chance (like this post). I’m deeply moved by such images -ala London riots, or trama, or the war in Afghanistan. Often times these images are so important to our culture, but at other times it’s shallow and cold to shoot them. I’m especially conflicted with the images coming out of London.
How about you… When do we shoot? When do we help or decide not to spread the horror?
UPDATE: Interview with the photographer (Amy Weston) that captured the stunning photograph in the earlier post below in an article over here at my Google+ page …offers some insights into what she was thinking and plays well with the ongoing discussion here on the blog and over at my Google+ page. (Add me to a circle if you’re G+ing so I can meet you too).
Save a life, limit suffering in the now vs potentially changing the course of events that saves tens, hundreds, thousands of lives or siffering in the future – cuts to the core of each of us. Eddie Adams, John File, Kevin Carter and countless others took images that changed how we viewed war, authority, etc., arguably changing the course of events. I believe we are all the better for it. The subjects of their photographs are not.
What happen in London is terrible but this shot of the burning building and the girl jumping is perfectly timed. I don’t think you could improve in this one. Absolutely fantastic journalist shot! Well done Amy!
If I knew my photographs were bringing light to the subject and ultimately peace, I think I would be all for it. I do understand the need to photograph for documentation and history’s sake, but for personal gain? That makes me uncomfortable… Great post and pose of question Chase.
It’s imperative that photographers capture all aspects of life. The horror included. To do it in a way that affords both subject and photographer dignity is the only point of contention.
I am a firefighter full-time and a photographer part-time. With that being said I love to shoot fires, car wrecks, and other emergency situations. I attempt to focus on the firefighters or emergency responders, to show the world what it is that we do. Yes this may seem heartless, but I do not think that most people understand exactly what we do or how hard it can be. So in this respect I am trying to educate the public. I will make an attempt to help if there are no emergency responders on scene yet, once they arrive, it is now their time to go to work and I will try to document that, out of their way.
These riots are not a “normal ” emergency. I think I would be somewhere in the middle, trying to help and show what was happening, all the while watching for my own safety. After all that I say shoot it; when you go back to look at your images then make your decision for what you think you should do with them. Someone needs to shoot what is happening even though they may be unpleasant images. It is still a story that needs to be told.