As I listened to others’ opinion on news photography, I noticed that most people talked about when a journalist should interfere with a scene that shakes our most sensitive humanitarian values. When a picture of someone in a desperate situation makes the cover of a newspaper, we immediately feel sorry for that person, and wonder if someone, particularly that photographer since he/she was there, helped that person in need.
At first, I thought exactly like this. I wished for that person’s rescue to be quick as possible. However, as I read Patricia Holland’s’ detailed article on news photography, my thought started to change and so did my focus. In her article, Ms. Holland talks about a particular work by the Picture Post photographer Bert Hardy.
At first, I thought exactly like this. I wished for that person’s rescue to be quick as possible. However, as I read Patricia Holland’s’ detailed article on news photography, my thought started to change and so did my focus. In her article, Ms. Holland talks about a particular work by the Picture Post photographer Bert Hardy.
Bert Hardy received a lot of praise when he documented a soldier ‘sharing his last drop of water with a peasant,’ as stated in the article. Unfortunately, this photo turned out to be a set-up. Hardy had asked the American soldier to give some water so that he can have ‘the shot’.
As I read this, I realized how easily we, human beings, can be deceived. In order to sell maybe a 100 or 1000 more copies, the media is manipulating our feelings. Manipulation is almost inevitable since even the most strongest at heart, have a tendency to feel sympathy when something really tragic happens to someone- even when that someone is a total stranger.
It just disgusts me when I read stuff like this. Dishonesty is something I cannot stand. Not a long time ago, I considered becoming a journalist. However, I easily realized that it is a tough world to survive in, and events like this made me aware of this fact even more. I still don’t know which profession I’ll choose; however, if I do pursue journalism, I’ll make sure that both the stories and the images are real. At least, that is what a true journalist should do.
As I read this, I realized how easily we, human beings, can be deceived. In order to sell maybe a 100 or 1000 more copies, the media is manipulating our feelings. Manipulation is almost inevitable since even the most strongest at heart, have a tendency to feel sympathy when something really tragic happens to someone- even when that someone is a total stranger.
It just disgusts me when I read stuff like this. Dishonesty is something I cannot stand. Not a long time ago, I considered becoming a journalist. However, I easily realized that it is a tough world to survive in, and events like this made me aware of this fact even more. I still don’t know which profession I’ll choose; however, if I do pursue journalism, I’ll make sure that both the stories and the images are real. At least, that is what a true journalist should do.
