[Leica] (NEW) STORY SERIES AS A TEST FOR THE NEXT BOOK? :-)

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Emotional Objectivity

 

The tears streamed down my face and I couldn't shoot. I left the room

followed by my host, a young doctor in her thirties. With her hand on my

shoulder, she softly explained the boy was not being hurt, he was merely

scared.

 

The little boy had disconnected his IV and several medical staff were

trying to reattach the connection. Although a pain-free procedure, the

child was terrified and screaming furiously.

 

After working in Russia for six weeks following the Chernobyl nuclear

disaster, I found myself loosing the battle to maintain objectivity. Day

after day with little bald headed children began to take its toll on my

emotions.

 

This little guy's crying just got to me. For a moment, he became one of my

ten grandchildren. Thoughts ran through my head: if ever there was a

nuclear war or an accident at home, this could be one of them.

 

As photojournalists our emotions are stirred by other human beings. But

those emotions must be tempered by objectivity.  This isn't always easy;

sometimes a good cry helps.