When does photography become exploitation?

[Barking_Mad]

When does photojournalism/social documentary photography become exploitative? Or is it by nature always that way? Is taking a photo of a woman with no home after the earthquake in Indonesia exploitative or does it serve a true purpose other than risking invoking pity and nothing else? I have real problems with these issues which is doubly hard because id really like to highlight some of them as a photographer but I can't balance out in my own head exactly what is acceptable and what isn't.

Any thoughts at where you think the boundary should be drawn?

 

[alef]

Perhaps if the photographer considers the exact same situation but with a member of their own family in place and then decides if it's appropriate? "My mother has lost everything and is in total anguish, do I want to share this image with the world?" Dunno, always hard to draw such lines. I've photographed a few drunken homeless people and then not felt great about it afterwards. Don't think I'd have the nerve to be a photojournalist in disaster areas or wars...

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

objectiviety is down to personal choice, i won't shoot blood guts and gore, simply because it's distressing to look at let alone record but i'll happly shot attacks and aggerssion or car accidents etc...

my simple rule of thumb is when it stops feeling like you are captuturing the essence of the moment and starts to feel like some kind of voyerism then it's time to put the camera down and shot summit else where...

so i'd say go with your instincts...there's a huge difference between missing an important shot and refusing to take it...

 

[Robster970]

When does photojournalism/social documentary photography become exploitative?

It is inherently exploitative. Whether you as the photographer consider it good or bad or whether you set yourself some form of morally justified limit for cut-off is your volition.

Also the picture will be interpreted differently by every viewer regardless of your moral position on the rights and wrongs of taking a picture so it really does highlight the fact that it is down purely to personal choice only.

 

[kerb]

I read, The Bang Bang Club a few years back.

These photojournalists faced the same dilemma when documenting the Soweto riots in South Africa, '94. Although it is not all about this issue, the author describes his feelings about this kind of thing.

Encrourage anyone to read it if you havent already

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I struggle with any photograph that features a person who has been unwillingly photographed or, photographed in a situation where they are not able to object. However, in the case of photojournalism in it's best form I think if you highlight an important issue and just one person decides to take action then it has to be a good thing.

 

[El Jugador]

I reckon it's exploitative if you take pictures without giving a fuck about the people or the situation. Obviously such a difference only exists in your own mind and it isn't exactly policeable - but the difference is pretty clear nonetheless - it is simply down to the photographer not to exploit and not to be exploited.

 

[Barking_Mad]

Hmm, I think it does depend on how the photograph is used once it's been taken. I guess part of the problem for me is that I think that taking the photo for me personally isn't always enough. I get annoyed by some photographers statements that "Im a photographer, not part of an NGO." That may be so but it doesn't stop you from being a human being. Still, I can see their point to a degree.

I also think there's a certain fetishism associated with photos of people in incredibly difficult situations by the people viewing them. Although I think some of them are incredibly powerful photos Im uncomfy with the idea of them sat on someone's coffee table and some people seeing them as "great photos" whilst to some degree ignoring the actual severity of that's contained within it. Still,that's probably not the fault of the photograph, just peoples interpretation of them.

Im quitting my job later this year and taking my camera and going to photograph on some things that I think should be seen by people in India and Thailand amongst other places. I guess ill find out when I get into a situation of taking photo's about what is and isnt acceptable to me.

/end of ramble