Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/11/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]To argue that a documentary photographer is completely "objective"--and I use that word in quotes for a reason--and that the presence of the person has no effect on the situation being captured would be more than disingenuous. This is not what Tina is saying, I know. The presence of an observer is always going to have some influence on the situation, but a really good documentarian will be able to reduce the impact of her/his presence as much as possible. The other extreme is the photographer who "poses" or arranges the subjects, or intrudes upon the subject/persons/etc. No matter what or "whom" is being photographed, the presence of someone "seeing" is always going to be an issue in terms of the image. It's a bit like a tree falling in the forest. If someone "watching" isn't there to "see" what people are doing, then the subject isn't aware of anyone's presence and is not going to respond to it, regardless of how subtly they do respond. But that's kind of the point of being there in the presence of the subjects you are documenting, anyway, isn't it? To interact with people on site, to see what they see, and to feel, taste, and touch what they experience, as closely as you can? That aspect of the process is as important as anything. However closely one can mesh with the subject and her/his world will determine how good the photographs are. It's a little counterintuitive, actually. The closer and more visible you are, the more invisible you may likely become. Kit - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Tina Manley Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 8:45 AM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] re: The Decisive Moment is gone At 03:58 PM 11/4/2003 +0100, you wrote: >I think any photojournalist who is honest about what goes on in conflict >areas, for instance, where clashes and riots are often "staged" in response >to the presence of the press, would disagree with you. And please don't tell >me that you've never asked someone to move aside to improve the light or the >picture in any number of ways. Well, maybe you haven't! Of course I have - for portraits or stock photographs. Never for documentary or news photos. When I was in Iraq, my minder wanted to take me to staged demonstrations. I refused to photograph them. >Good photojournalists and documentary photographer take pictures that tell >the story - _their_ story - and how they go about it is irrelevant. This attitude is why so many people don't trust journalists and photographers. How they go about it is relevant. Any manipulation is dishonest and a lie. Tina Tina Manley, ASMP www.tinamanley.com http://www.pdiphotos.com http://www.workbookstock.com http://www.newscom.com http://www.americanphotojournalist.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html