Should photographers "drop the camera and help," or ...

[ColbertWatcher]

... continue documenting an event?

That is one of the questions some people asked when this photo was taken:


(http://pulitzerphotos.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/baby-stalked-by-vulture-in-sudan/">Story behind the photo)

But, now some people in the internets tubes are asking that same question about the recent SUV that caught on fire. Should the person behind the video camera have dropped it and helped out?

Should all photographers "drop the camera and help"?

[Skittles]

1. that photographer killed himself

definitely I would not have filmed that SUV fire - heck, I would have been trying to get inside of it

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Yes, Carter did commit suicide.

As far as the SUV videographer, he/she would have been one of many people crowding around the SUV.

There are many ways to help after an accident, including taking pictures of the rescue.

[Skittles]

16. not faulting him for doing it

I'm just saying *I* would not film it - I'd be doing everything I could to get the people out of that vehicle

[ColbertWatcher]

20. I'm sorry I didn't mean it to come out like that.

As far as who was videotaping the burning SUV, we don't know why the person didn't "help" out.

Plus, from the footage, it looked like there were plenty of people willing to jump in. I can't tell if one more person jumping in would have helped or been in the way.

[Skittles]

21. he saw there were lots of people

I'm sure if there had only been a couple he would have put the camera down

[ColbertWatcher]

23. That's what I'm thinking too. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. The photo above, I hate to point this out, but if the photographer

starts feeding the kid, re-feeding syndrome will occur. Now taking the kid to health care after taking photo, is a possibility, but kids who could not be saved, were not. That is for your information. Some kids were too far gone... which is sad to no end.

Now I will give you a concrete example where the camera man filming was the right decision. Local reporter was assaulted during the course of the story. The film helped to establish the level of guilt for all involved... and saved the court many a headaches.

Now a reporter in a fire... I don't know, but this is to my mind situational.

[Booster]

3. This photograph just breaks my heart. I was watching a documentary

once about elephants and the photographer was filming a baby elephant that was dying for lack of water. During the entire segment I was screaming "give that baby some damn water", but they just kept filming. At the end of the segment, they showed that, indeed, the photographer did give the baby some water and I stood up in my little tv room and applauded like the guy had just sung the best ever version of the Star Spangled Banner ever. Made me believe again.

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I think after seeing a documentary like that ...

... it might inspire people to do something about drought. Or, better yet to do something to prevent the next drought.

Without the work of the camera person, fewer people would know how many elephants are dying due to changes in their environment.

[Booster]

9. Totally agree. I do appreciate the work photographers do, but

I would just hope that they remember they are human beings with a heart and a soul and if they can do something about a situation, I would hope they at least try.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. True, however ...

... for some situations, like the starving child one, there was nothing the photographer could have done at that point. Perhaps if he had known years before, he might have made a difference.

Hell, we have known about the crimes in Darfur for years and still no one is able to do a damn thing.

[XemaSab]

5. If you're a photographer documenting a famine

how can you help everyone? I'm sure that little child was one of a thousand, or ten thousand, or a hundred thousand.

In that situation, it might be better to personally contribute to the relief effort, but maybe by documenting the situation, a thousand or ten thousand westerners will be compelled to contribute beyond what one man can do? :shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

7. This is my thinking too.

Photographs have a way of connecting people to events outside their own neighborhoods.

[XemaSab]

10. .

[Forkboy]

8. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this.

I guess I'm in the "depends on the situation" category.

And I would have killed myself after that too. :(

[ColbertWatcher]

13. I know, what a horrific thing to witness.

If only the people who caused the famine had half his conscience.

[mudplanet]

12. How does the photographer bear more responsibility than

you or I in this instance? We know that there are starvation situations all around the world, yet we continue to make hogs of ourselves and fail to provide minimum assistance to people in these situations. Have you contributed to the Red Cross? I haven't. Yet I know that all over the world there are things like what we see in this photo happening.

Attacking the media in cases like this is counter productive. The media's proper function is to keep us informed in a useful fashion (well, it's proper democratic function. It's principal function in capitalism is "to sell audiences to advertisers"). What really makes me sick is the media's expenditure of resources (people, equipment, air time, helicopters!!!!) to cover such useful news as the latest car crash in town.

Even worse, if the photographer doesn't do his/her job, then we may not even know about these situations, and the historical record will be weaker and thus people will be more likely to repeat these mistakes.

As to filming an SUV fire - definitely every human being present has some responsibility to assist if they are able.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Well said and welcome to DU. n/t

[Skittles]

17. some of us do try to help

I've been sending packages of clothes and shoes and paper and pens to children in Afghanistan and Iraq for years

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. Journalists have drilled into them, 'Don't affect the news. Don't become the news.'

And, if you're a dyed-in-the-wool photojournalist, all you can think is "Get the shot. Get the shot. GET THE SHOT!"



I'd think there must be exceptions, but what they are depends on one's conscience.

[tammywammy]

19. Agreed n/t

[Canuckistanian]

18. There's an old photographer's joke that's more like black humor

A poor little girl who was selling fruit on the corner had her stand robbed by a thief. The photog snapped a few pics of the girl crying. Another photographer was looking at the prints and says, "Great shots you got here! What did you give the little girl?" The 1st photographer says, "Well, it was sunny, so I gave her 1/125 of a second at F16".

I know, not funny. But it's such an ingrained habit for a photojournalist NOT to get involved in a story they're shooting.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. There' probably a chance that someone might question the authenticity of the photo.

I remember people wondering if the starving child picture in the OP was staged or some kind of photoshop.

And you just know there would be some new "troofer" group demanding the photographer tell what really happened.

[MichaelHarris]

22. Wonderful post

of a thought-provoking question. The Mel Gibson movie that should have been more about Joe Galloway actually covers that, it was based on Galloway's book, We Were Soldiers.


I looked over and saw Joe Galloway sitting with his back against a small tree, camera in his lap, rifle across his knees. I knew why I was there. I'm a professional military man and it's my job. But what the hell was HE doing there? Turned out he was doing his job too."
-Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hal Moore- http://www.weweresoldiers.net/joes-story.htm

[ColbertWatcher]

25. I avoided that movie because Gibson was in it and ...

... usually Mel Gibson movies are about Mel Gibson.

Maybe I'll check out the book now.

Thank you MichaelHarris.

[MichaelHarris]

35. you're very welcome

I had almost given up on DU but I've always enjoyed your posts.

[ET Awful]

26. James Nachtwey, one of the best photojournalists alive today addresses that issue

addresses that issue well:

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_nachtwey_s_searing_pictures_of_war.html

Both there, and in the documentary "War Photographer".

I highly suggest watching it.

Also - it's worth noting that when dealing with victims of starvation, great care must be taken and it's highly advisable that it be done by someone with some medical knowledge. Feeding too much of the wrong food too fast will very likely kill the victim.

[ColbertWatcher]

28. Thank you for posting this.

I'm watching the video now.

[ColbertWatcher]

30. FTFV: "Society's problems can't be solved until they are identified."

"On a higher plane, the press is a service industry and the service it provides is awareness.

Every story does not have to sell something; there's also a time to give."

[ET Awful]

31. Nacthwey is a bit of "hero" of mine (for lack of a better term)

He has been injured numerous times by shrapnel, etc. in his attempt not just to "get the shot", but to tell the story.

I have to agree with his belief that telling the story to get people to pay attention is hugely important. If the story goes untold, it will always be questioned, and words are sometimes not enough to truly convey the story.

You should also check out his personal website: http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

[ColbertWatcher]

33. "If the story goes untold, it will always be questioned" QFT

I have to agree.

[Ferretherder]

27. For those who aren't aware,....

....I remember hearing/reading a news item or some sort of discussion that touched on the story behind this photo, and DEFINITELY remember the remark being made that the child was, after much effort, indeed able to get up and continue on to the village where he/she was going.

Just so you know.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. I had never heard the rest of this story.

Thank you for posting.

[noamnety]

32. There's a documentary out about the photographer

"The Death of Kevin Carter"

He got started by documenting the atrocities in South Africa, and it was partly his photography that led to the downfall of apartheid.

http://www.kevincarterfilm.com/

[ColbertWatcher]

34. Thank you. n/t