So you want to capture these iconic photos?

As the guy said, there is a pressing demand from the media and there must be continuous supply of photos from photographers. So, as George wrote, disappointing maybe, but not surprising. I still don't think James Nachtwey's shots were staged.
 
Rogier said:
................................. Forget about taking a rangefinder, painted black and blend inn to capture the "Moment" here is how the "Pro's" do it 😡 ..........................
Click to expand...

I love the way Youtube is always able to simplify complex issues. Why study? Just watch one Youtube video.

FWIW, Robert Capa (remember him?) wrote about and was bothered by the way photographers would influence the action they are recording.
 
In my experience there is more than just an element of 'truth' to this, however it would be foolish (and insulting to the many courageous, honest and hard working photographers) to believe that all images of unrest, rioting and war are staged in this kind of manner.

I have no experience of photographing war, the affects of war or anything much like it. I do have plenty of experience of photographing rioting, political demonstrations and the civil unrest that is prevalent in much of the West in recent years and it is in this arena that I can honestly say that I have seen a number of photographers setting up shots, suggesting poses/actions and generally having some level of influence over some of their subjects.

I've also seen fellow photographers react very differently when seeing some of their peers act in this way. Disgust, annoyance, disappointment, understanding, laughter, p!ss taking...it's all there.

Personally I don't see why we, as an audience, shouldn't expect some level of this to be happening, as Bob Michaels has pointed out....it's not a new issue.
 
In defense of the photojournalist profession, I suspect the photographers portrayed in the Youtube video are not getting the good assignments these days. I also suspect the person who made the video does not have many photojournalist friends these days. We have an expression down here in the south "p*ssing in your boots to keep your feet warm"
 
This stuff happens. But there's a lot of street roaming still. I read a bio of Tyler Hicks a few years ago that said he'd only go out like 20 minutes a day on his own to get photos. And even covering metro news there's occasions where I've been the only one there at a crime scene/fire for a good 30 minutes or so before another media outlet showed up and it turns into that kind of thing you see in the video.
 
This ties to the Eric Kim thread about street shots being staged. Those who thinks that a good shot shouldn't be staged will definitely be very disappointed.
 
Araakii said:
This ties to the Eric Kim thread about street shots being staged. Those who thinks that a good shot shouldn't be staged will definitely be very disappointed.
Click to expand...

With regard to that kind of staging ( i.e. street ) you also have the problem of who defines staging? Some seem to believe that to stop in one spot and wait is a form of staging your shots. Others, like Eric, might make suggestions to the people they photograph. Whilst another may even physically move the subject around.
 
I find this perspective fascinating. When I go into the field for research trips into Guatemala, sometimes I struggle to put the camera to my face because my love of photography gets me my brain excited about making some huge statement about humanity via a photograph, but in the very moment I feel a human connection to just let the moment be....

Prime example was a photograph of the oldest woman I have met in the countryside who was in such bad condition. The minute I saw her, I knew the kind of impact the photos would have, and the woman I was working with suggested I photograph her. I wanted to photo her hands and feet in dramatic ways and so forth, but I just couldn't bring my self to do it. I felt like it would totally objectify her. After asking her for a photo sure enough she starts to fix her hair and say how bad she looks and so on, but I just told her how pretty I thought she was and bam she gives me a look and a smile.

I think my upbringing wanted to objectify her and her suffering to make powerful images but of the three shots I took of her, the smile and classic portrait is my favorite. Its probably not the most dramatic or moving image that could have been captured, and my photography brain wanted to shoot a whole roll of just her, but my heart only let me take three images...

I'm very glad this was just personal work because if I was paying the bills I would have definitely shot a roll of her, and would have used my "creative" tool box to try to make some sort of consumable statement.

The Portrait
5877318552_418b95d0fa.jpg

The beginnings of something else...
5876765699_93479ba915.jpg

5877326496_3f3459d630.jpg

Sometimes, when I travel I like to think I am just documenting what I see, but I know I am bending reality.... That is what we want though, we want powerful images that capture the imagination and feed our stereotypes.
 
The Expanding Man said:
Modern journalism is not journalism in the same way that WWF wrestling is not sport.

It's all entertainment.
Click to expand...

Be aware there are some current photojournalists that would really be offended. Not all, maybe not even a majority, but certainly some. And, they are the ones that count.

Remi Ochlik, Tim Hetherington, and Chris Hondros immediately come to mind. They paid the ultimate price in the last 12 months. Try telling James Nachtwey that it is all just entertainment.
 
Bob Michaels said:
Be aware there are some current photojournalists that would really be offended. Not all, maybe not even a majority, but certainly some. And, they are the ones that count.

Remi Ochlik, Tim Hetherington, and Chris Hondros immediately come to mind. They paid the ultimate price in the last 12 months. Try telling James Nachtwey that it is all just entertainment.
Click to expand...

Point taken. I should have been more careful and less general with my words.

However, I don't retract the general sentiment.
 
Araakii said:
This ties to the Eric Kim thread about street shots being staged. Those who thinks that a good shot shouldn't be staged will definitely be very disappointed.
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with staging something for art, but journalism? Nah, that's not right. It's to be expected though...

I don't think you can compare Eric Kim to a journalist. Different intentions and audiences.
 
Why the disappointments?
Those photographers are people, just like you and I.

What would you do in their shoes?
What would you do if you had their boss, deadlines, demands, and job on the line?

Why are they wearing gas masks and helmet? I don't see Peter Jackson wearing those in his video blog on "The Hobbits" that's because unlike the Israeli borders, *real* riots don't break out in Hollywood Studios (at least not yet). And real riots do not follow a certain schedule. And when real riots do break out, do they get a bonus paycheck?

As though we'd care more about the situation if the scenes were not staged.

Give them a break.
 
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