Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I disagree with the policy too. I believe that to fail to document this human catastrophe would be neglectful. Yes, this is those people's home, but I have photographed in peoples homes many times. I'm damn sure that if you spoke to them and gained their trust most of these folks would be happy to let you work. It's what being a documentary photographer is all about. This code of privacy is always a major issue, but when you think of the effect that pictures from, for instance, refugee camps in Africa have on western consciousness, it is not only worth breaching a polite code, it is essential. I am not, incidentally, taking about the howling packs of "press" photographers using their hi-tech cameras like machine guns and their flashs like disco lights. Keep them out for God's sake! It's all a question of attitude. I remember a conversation in Sarajevo - long after the war - when a survivor was telling me how much everyone had detested the photographers who, during the siege, would turn up with their long lenses and sit in an armoured car and wait to get a picture of an old lady getting shot by a sniper on her way to the market. They hated them almost as much as the snipers themselves. I pointed out that I was a photographer too, and that I'd just been taking pictures of him. He said it wasn't the same thing at all. P. ******* Paul Hardy Carter www.paulhardycarter.com ******* On 7 Sep 2005, at 02:24, Don Dory wrote: > All, > For all practical purposes, the shelters are these peoples homes, > their residences. Wouldn't you want some privacy? These people have > already lost almost everything they have including family members. > Can't we give them some dignity and not poke cameras in their faces? > > Don > don.dory@gmail.com