Do you know that photo ? There is even an opinion that it is the most famous war photograph. I didn’t even know that the word “famous” can be used to describe that kind of photography. The author of this picture is Kevin Carter, a member of (again) famous photo group “Bang Bang Club”.
Bang Bang Club is a label that 4 photographers used to describe themselves. Kevin Carter, Greg Marinovich, Ken Oosterbroek, and João Silva worked in the early 90s in RPA during the transformation period and the fall of apartheid. They showed the world how a war in South Africa looked like. The photo I’ve mentioned in the beginning is the most recognizable from their works. It was shot by Kevin Carter and is said to be the reason for Carter’s suicide. The fact is that despite their big success, worldwide fame and journalist prizes, they had to face serious mental problems due to everything they experienced.
Carter photographed a starving girl with a companion of a vulture. Public opinion accused him that he was taking a photo instead of helping the child. Carter admitted that he waited 20 minutes hoping that the vulture would spread its wings. After publication in New York Times that photo became an icon of “Africa’s despair”. The editorial office got thousands of phone calls whether the child survived or not. After NYT published that frame as a cover photo, some serious volunteer initiative started to grow to help people in places at war. In the end he somehow contributed to grow awareness of war among people. He was awarded with the Pulitzer Prize - one of the most important ones. He also paid the highest price for his job because his mental problems drove him to a suicide.
That whole situation can be a good point to start a discussion about photojournalism, and the morality of journalism, especially of those involved in war cases. There is something worrying in a photographer’s behavior when he is waiting for a good shot in front of a dying child and a vulture, don’t you think so ? I have mixed feelings because I’m not sure whether the photographer wanted to show the world the current situation of starving kids in Sudan or he wanted to have a good photo to fulfill his ambition.
You can read about Kevin and his colleagues in the book: “Bractwo Bang Bang”. It’s written by Greg Marinovich and João Silva, two members of the club. It consists of actual memories and thoughts from RPA from days of war. It’s about male friendship and superhuman courage, and of course about a race for the best photo. It can partially answer some questions you may want to ask. Like, what were they thinking ? Did they have problems with drugs? Did they feel fear ?
Questions:
1. What is your opinion on morality of war photographers ?
2. Can journalists make change with photos and books?
Sources:http://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/126099/bractwo-bang-bang
http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/
1. What is your opinion on morality of war photographers ?
2. Can journalists make change with photos and books?
Sources:http://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/126099/bractwo-bang-bang
http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/
Comments
I think the only thing they can change something, is by making people informed.
http://www.imediaethics.org/News/4346/Hoax__photo_of_syrian_boy_sleeping_between_parents_graves_was_staged.php
photo. As you wrote, this photo probably saved a thousand of children like this
one, by showing the world how bad is current situation in Africa.
The more shocking thing to me, are sitauations like this one :
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glFOIui0ejQ/UFeAEGjbxlI/AAAAAAAAIvI/h_0GL2NKd7U/s1600/cherisma2.jpg
where photographers are almost fighting to take a best shot, having no respect to
dead girl. This are no longer a photographers that try to change something, but
just looking for some sensation that will sell.
Yeah, this may change something. Maybe not now but in the future for sure. This is an great example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aEyR0rl5xQ&hd=1. Before that I don't even realize how it looks for Syrian people.
The leave home for a long time to make maybe one great photo, in my opinion they show as how world really look like, and this impress me
For sure journalist can make change with their job.
If we talk about war photographers i would like to recommend you great movie about them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pPxqWe7j1U
I think they are honest on contrary to some wild life phographers. Somebody has to do this job.
2. Can journalists make change with photos and books?
Of course yes, pictures are more straightforward than 100 words. It is easier to shock by picture than by text.
The job of war journalists / photographers is important as their are the ones who portray the war, show the reality of conflicts (or at least they should). I think it's hard to judge ethical aspects of their actions from our sitting-comfortable-and-safe-in-home point of view.
2. Can journalists make change with photos and books?
Yes, they can raise awerness of conflicts among people.
In my opinion one photo could be the thing that will make people to think.
I always couldn't understand why TV helicopter flying around flooded terrains is only sending information where are people on the roofs and not helping them. They admitted that they have no trained people on board... Well... Couldn't they just allow services to use their heli?
War photographer is a job, as others one. Connection with risk, effort and skill. Is sad that they are taking photos of poor people, instead giving them food or water, but that is not their responsibilities. Thanks to them we (although some) know how war looks like and can imagine how terrible it is.
In my opinion that good way to show people how terrible life could be, by photos or books. Then we can think about it and appreciate what we have. But what could we do to change it? This is not our decisions what happens there.
make us realize how cruel wars are, but on the other hand I feel
that the fighters must be annoyed with someone who is just taking photos
of them fighting.
Anyway I think that journalists make changes with their job as they let
people know what's really going on around the world.
Of course they can, that's why several genres of books and newspaper exist. I don't think many people normally get a lot of pleasure from reading about genocide or the darker aspects of the human mind, but it's important to know about and explore these places on a moral level. I think we can learn a lot about ourselves simply in the ways we react to such situations, and that is always valuable.
Sure journalists can affect people minds. They bring us information, isn't it importent? Some people say that journalists are the 4th government and it's true. They can change man's opinion in one phrase, so photo or book can change opinion of hunderts, millions people.
We don't know what wewould do on their place. I can't imagine me being in heart of war, but I have been thinking about helping international humanitarian organizations lots of times!
I still appreciate what they do, even their photos are poorly received.
I think journalists can make changes with their photos and books. They can introduce problems average people don’t see and because of their fame or authority create awareness and make people want to change something in their life and whole world. They can protest against something, they can sign petitions, they can boycott companies or government. People are strong and can make a difference, We need to remember about this.
However, I think that by taking a moving photo, they are able to transform the hearts of many people and thus do a lot of good things. In the psyche of people, the photo is memorable and moves so that we want to change the world for the better. Thanks to the photo of Kevin Carter, many people began to help the victims in the war.