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).
Sorry chase but being from Greece i’ve seen my share of protests and riots. You DO have to shoot, and then you can decide if you are going to publish or not. Around here photographers, both pro and amateurs, are the lifeline of people arrested and abused for no apparent reason by police forces. There are many examples of people arrested and then framed by police with rucksacks full of Molotov bombs only to be released by a photograph showing the time of arrest. (quite a feeling for just one click)
My ethical question is whether we are helping big brother by contributing more pictures of people for them to identify..
Also The People That Have Taken Photo’s Have Done Alot To Help The Police Get Who Is Responsible For Some Of The Terrible Things That Have Happened These Last Few Days.
Hi Chase, to shoot or not is a very difficult decision…ike you I am torn. I work mainly in portraiture, corporate etc and I’m not sure if I the ‘instinct’ for this kind of work. Having said that, I think that in the heat of the moment during a riot I would take shots…it’s later (when things/I’ve calmed down) that I’d have second thoughts about how to use them. I’ve a lot of admiration for the bravery of the photographers (and public) that are covering the current riots (a number have been attacked to stop them taking images)….one very good usage of the resultant shots is posting them online to help identify the trouble makers.
I couldnt imagine shooting a photo when something like this is going on. Yes it’s important to document events like this, but my human instinct would want to put down the camera and help.
The image is incredible but its an image I wouldn’t have ever captured given the same situation.
I Just Wanted To Say I Pretty Sure The Above Photo Wasn’t Taken At London Riots We DON’T Have Road Signs Like That Here And I’ve Saw It On The Front Page Of Several Newpaper But It as Later Said That I Had Been Photoshopped For The New Paper To Look Like It Had Been Taken Here.
Also I Wanted To Go Photograph The Riots. Not So Much People Getting Hurt Part But The Way Shops Where Left After They Where Looted And The Burning After Effects Of The Riots I Feel Its Important To See Whats Happened Our (England’s) Capital. I Watched The New Constantly Pretty Much Since Saturday And When I Was At Its Worst (Monday) Everything Looked So Toy Like On Tv. I Don’t Think Its Right Though Standing There Taking Photo’s While People Need Help and Getting In The Police And Fire Crews Way.