The fine line
 

Photography has a fine line and some people are willing to take chances in crossing it. I think of Will McBride for example. Great photographer no questions about it. However, he is one who crossed the line when he published the book "Show Me." Which later was deemed "kiddie porn."

Every person who picks up a camera, both young and old has to determine where he or she will draw the line, Is it art or junk?

Because of books like McBrides parents can no longer take certain candid shots and get the film developed. For if they do they could get arrested. Thus in some cases society draws even the line of what is acceptable. Thus it is no wonder why digital photography evolved as it did; it redrew the line back into the hands of the one holding the camera.

So, where does your line stop or start or do you shoot but never show the shot?

Maybe I'm wrong. But it sure seems right.

I've never held back from pressing the shutter. Fortunately I've never been put in the sort of difficult situation that I've needed to have to make a really difficult decision.

I have no idea where the line is - I just hope that, should I ever stumble across it, I'd notice it.

This sort of thing often leads to discussions about Kevin Carters "Starving Child Stalked by Vulture"

[img]http://photosthatchangedtheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/nilgunyalcin_childvulture.jpg[/img]

Carter saw it as his duty to record the suffering and, apparently, only had the chance to either shoot or help. His decision tormented him so much that he shot himself about 3 months after taking the shot.

That is my point exactly! there is a line out ther for each and every one of us. Sometimes we just don't know what or where it is until it is to late, as in the case you mentioned.

No matter our status as one behind the camera we all have to cross the line somewhere, sometime. And when and if we do it will either be a curse or blessing.

It strange, but in relation to wild life a lot of wildlife photographers and film makers have a rule not to interfere with nature, so if a big cat is stalking a deer they don't shout to warn it. Should we not also be detatched in relation to Carters's picture and view it as nature at work? Also, in this case perhaps the child was beyond help and couldn't be saves therefore, taking the shot and having it broadcast around the world might have aided others who were in the same situation.

How many times have we walked past a person begging on the streets and ignored them? Might that person be so disheartened that they go away and hang themselves, and in that situation should we be held responsible? Think of a doctor who recieves two injured people but can only treat one and that person makes a full recovery and then goes and kills someone, would we blame the doctor for making the wrong choice?

The point I'm trying to make is we may all have to make such judgements in our lives, and only people who were there at the time could say whether we crossed the line or not.

The 'line' is in your head and constantly changes according to your circumstances and life experience. Nobody can tell you what's right or wrong because nobody has lived your life.

One thing I will say is that you do get hardened to situations when you're constantly put in them. I get looked down on and threatened fairly often on sensitive jobs, because people see me as crossing THEIR line, not my own. On the flip side it's all pats on the back and 'you're brave' when I'm hanging out of a helicopter or on the ground in Afghanistan.

The world needs artists to cross lines and boundaries, otherwise all we'd see hanging on our walls or opening our newspapers and magazines are shots of bees on flowers!

Ben

Here's a pretty hardcore line...

[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1211504/The-image-dying-U-S-soldier-sparked-furious-debate-Afghan-war-divided-America.html[/url]

[IMG]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/06/article-0-06483A20000005DC-990_634x417.jpg[/IMG]

This is a hard one, people need to take pictures like the above two shots so the world can see what is going on, take 9.11 for example without any pictures or video footage would we have had any idea of what it was really like.
As my father always tells me a picture says a thousand words.
On the other side of the coin as a train driver I get involved with suicides all to offten, yet would never even think about getting my camera out my bag.
Robster

Hi,

I am currently researching my dissertation on the ethics of war photography, what a great story link, thank you!

I previously wrote an essay on the bang bang club and kevin carter along the same lines.

If anyone has anything interesting to contribute please pm me, particularly looking for people to interview.

Cheers

Hi Jamie,

Thought you might find this blog interesting - [url]http://www.photoradar.com/blogs/article/photographing-in-an-afgan-conflict-zone[/url]

Cheers, Rach