[Leica] NPR comments on photography

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)]

Tom, your parting thought contains a very interesting example. I think that 
you may be referring to that famous Capa photograph,
from 1936, in the Spanish Civil War. That photograph of the Loyalist soldier 
falling is now thought by many to have been staged.
That same photo was a powerful symbol at the time. If manipulated, then an 
excellent example of how a picture may be used to
influence opinion, a propaganda tool. Did the end justify the means? That is 
at the core of the discussion regarding
photojournalism, I think.

Cheers
Hoppy 

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Tom Schofield
Sent: Friday, 27 April 2007 00:33
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] NPR comments on photography

One last, parting thought on the subject -- Another way of looking at  
the issue, from the consumer's point of view, is that part of the  
beauty of the image is the perfection of the skill (sometimes luck)  
of the photographer in capturing the decisive moment.  A couple of   
examples that come to mind are the WWII soldier caught at the moment  
of impact of the bullet (admittedly luck!) or the fishing Grizzly  
caught with the jumping salmon between the jaws, just before he  
closes them (was that  Wolfe?).  They just wouldn't have the same  
impact if you knew they were faked.  It diminishes the image itself.

Tom


On Apr 21, 2007, at 7:17 AM, Ted Grant wrote:

> I realize this topic is beginning to beat on a dead horse, but it's  
> some
> troubling, because I haven't seen the anger I expected about lying and
> cheating by a photographer who was looked up to by many for his photo
> talent.
>
> Those of you who've never "worked as a professional news  
> photographer or
> photojournalist on assignment" where getting the picture was  
> paramount to
> keeping our jobs, may not understand what the meaning of "making  
> contact
> with the subject" is all about. Truth & trust make it work.
>
> The one thing that allows us to connect with the subject is trust,  
> period.
> We the carriers of the equipment create the trust human to human,  
> not camera
> to human. Break the trust and we are dead in the water!
>
> It was tough enough in the good old days to gain the trust of the  
> subject or
> subjects in the simplest of terms. But we did, in many cases it was  
> trust
> that allowed us entrance to their world or life moments of tragedy.
>
> Today when one of the members is caught cheating and lying with  
> their camera
> and ancillary electronic modifying equipment, it illustrates we're  
> no more
> trustworthy than lying cheating politicians. And it doesn't get  
> much lower
> than that!
>
> If people feel we'll take their picture, then build "other stuff"  
> around
> them to enhance a news moment, we'll make it almost impossible to have
> cooperation whether CEO or peasant!
>
> As I said about the basket ball insertion, no body died because of  
> it so it
> seemed "no big deal." But most readers would automatically think,  
> "cool
> picture, great shot that guy is good!" However, when they learn  
> they've been
> hoodwinked? Then what do they think about the great picture  
> photographer?
>
> "Hey he cheated, the ball wasn't even there! What about the rest of  
> those
> news photographers? Do they cheat as well?"
>
> Right at that moment every one of us are blackballed about telling  
> the truth
> with our Leica trustworthy camera's.
>
> This subject maybe of little interest to many of you, but to people  
> like
> some of our crew who make their living from recording life as we  
> see it,
> it's a major item. Certainly how our photography is accepted in  
> being an
> honest representation of life at 1/250th of a second! Or whatever  
> shutter
> speed!
>
> ted
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


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