Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, Nachtwey and Smith amd most, if not all, of the great documentary photographers have a clearly defined purpose in taking their photographs. So far I don't think we've heard from the photographer any reason why he is taking these 'cutting' pictures - although we've heard a lot of assumptions about it from other people. What purpose will the pictures serve, and to what use will they be put? It seems to me that these are the first answers we need before we rush to any kind of judgement. David Hurn of Magnum, in 'On being a photographer' has a lot of useful advice about choosing a subject, including the following: "Eliminate those subjects about which you are ignorant, at least until you have conducted a good deal of research into the topic. For example, you are not contributing anything to the issue of urban poverty by wandering back streets and snatching pictures of derelicts in doorways. That's exploitation, not exploration." Regards, Bob >From: Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com> > >I'm not sure I understand you here, Jim. Where do you draw your line and >say "this is OK, that isn't" in cases like this? Is Natchwey's "Inferno" >not a personal portfolio, and based on the individual misery of many >people? >What about "Minimata" - that essay violates the fine art/misery >proscription >pretty handily. > >Lots and lots of photo essays have been done of people in desperate >physical >or mental misery. Many of these have raised the awareness of folks like >me, >who don't come in contact with such situations very often. And these have >been done by photographers as personal work, with no medical intent, purely >one of expanding the awareness of viewers. > >In a way I'm amazed by the strength of the negative reaction this has >generated. To me, it's honest work about a difficult subject - one that is >sufficiently important for people to think about that a visual prod like >this is totally appropriate. > >So, respectfully, I disagree. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.