Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/06/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In my Voice of the 99% portfolio, in my initial showing of the images, I often omit the "Black Bloc" image http://richardmanphoto.com/PICS/20111114-L1008004-Edit.jpg because it shows a side of the Occupy that I don't necessarily agree with. But it's a strong image so eventually it bubbles to the "top ten." Well, of all the images that I sent to the Soho Gallery for their National Photo competition, they chose that one, so I guess for whatever reasons, it resonates with the juror too. A news story says that a video journalist was attacked because he was taping the Anarchists letting air out of the police cars (which I suppose could be used as evidence against them). I know there were times that I did not choose to photograph. The "truth" can certainly be very fungible. On Sat, Jun 9, 2012 at 12:48 PM, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote: > Hi Phil, > Actually for me and I suppose 62 years of published assignments, books and > lectures illustrating how and why not to be one side or the other allows me > to shoot what others see as cold and heartless? My assignment is covering > the event....... not who is right or wrong! As a documentary photographer > you shoot what you see and what motivates, not which side is right or > wrong. You cover it all simply because you are a story teller with your > cameras regardless of subject! Right or wrong! > > I suppose there are a great number of people who wouldn't agree with this, > but that's quite simple really. They are not story tellers with the camera > and recoding life as it's happening. That doesn't mean photojournalists are > cold hearted don't care folks. > > People who know me personally, know I'm without question, quite as I refer > to myself..... "An emotional jerk!" I have photographed nearly 200 child > birthings and I can honestly say I have shed a tear at each one simply > because one minute there is a humpy bump and next thing it's a little brand > new human being sometimes howling it's head off! > > At the Olympics, Canada wins a Gold Medal and I'm trying to photograph the > athlete with medal about their neck as our national anthem is played and > manual focus a 400mm 2.8 and doing that through tears running down my > cheeks. > > However covering riots, war or major demonstrations it's a whole different > ball game! You are shooting everything good, bad or ugly being done by > either side simply because that's the assignment. Not that one side is > right or wrong! > > "AND CERTAINLY NOT WHAT YOUR EMOTIONS ARE ABOUT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER!" > > If one is a true recorder of life? IE: "A photojournalist/documentary > photographer" you shoot every motivating bit of what's happening before > you without feeling. Yep a tough call at times, but the "in their hearts, > souls and mind" people who claim to be "photojournalists" and have shot > real life horrors of day to day living without direction or a bias attitude > one side or the other, do it as a job. As tough or easy as that can be at > times. > > But I can say wihthout reservation.......... the emotions can kick in > later when we least expect them depending on what we've just gone through > as a photojournalist/documentary shooter. > > cheers, > Dr. ted > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Leica Users Group. > See > http://leica-users.org/**mailman/listinfo/lug<http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug>for > more information > -- // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>