Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/12

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Subject: [Leica] WAS: Salgado Revisted NOW: questions answered
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 16:21:47 -0800
References: <8C26AB46-1FDF-11D6-A6F7-003065D4DE46@sohogurus.net> <001701c1b3f1$3f227e80$6501a8c0@directvinternet.com> <000b01c1b3fb$fdd8eda0$633f4d18@gv.shawcable.net> <006b01c1b41a$244d9c60$6501a8c0@directvinternet.com>

Matthew Powell asked:
>>> Ted, though I admittedly haven't read your book, only seen some of the
> photos on your website - were you telling a story, so much as showcasing
>the work and acts of doctors?<<<<

Well I wasn't telling a story paragraph by para, nor was I looking at any
given storyline to show only the good. I was as part of the scene
physically, be it OR, consultation you name it and I was shooting everything
and anything I was "motivated by" as a photojournalist.

> But if you had followed one patient - perhaps a cancer patient, or someone
> without health insurance - and their medical visits, do you think it would
> have been as completely separated from the politics of the issue (cancer
> funding, drugs, treatment, lack of healthcare for millions)?<<<<<

Sure! Why not? I'm a photojournalist shooting what happens, not a politician
trying to gain brownie points everytime they look at something.

I suppose viewing the final production, those with a bent for misery or good
could read whatever they wish, but that's not what I'd be shooting.
Certainly not the wishes of others, good, bad or ugly.  A good
photojournalist stands out side the circle and is the recorder of the event,
not part of the event.

And if your there looking only for the good, and shooting only that, then
you lose your clean objectivity as a photojournalist and become a
propagandist.

And if you do not work in a clean manner, recording all the motivating
images before you, then your "photographic eyes are blinkered to everything
going on... good, bad or ugly."

And that's never been my style, I record everything and anything that I'm
motivated by. I suppose I've been allowed in places others do not get
because of years of doing just that, shooting everything before
me............ if it's motivating I shoot it.

And working with absolutely no flash and only Leica M's and R's, you capture
quietly many things without people having any idea you were taking pictures.

I trust this answers your questions.
ted

Ted Grant Photography Limited
www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant


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In reply to: Message from Allan Wafkowski <allan@sohogurus.net> ([Leica] Re: Salgado Revisted)
Message from "Matthew Powell" <mlpowell@directvinternet.com> (Re: [Leica] Re: Salgado Revisted)
Message from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] Re: Salgado Revisted)
Message from "Matthew Powell" <mlpowell@directvinternet.com> (Re: [Leica] Re: Salgado Revisted)