Thread: Documentary, reportage and moral responsibility

Until any of us have the misfortune to be in such a situation we simply cannot judge. I was once the target of an attempted mugging - on a cold, wet night in Amsterdam. A man asked me the time and tried to grab my watch when I looked at it. He managed somehow in the ensuing struggle to get his arm around my neck. I went nuts and ended up putting him on the ground and hitting him hard enough to stay there. I fled and went straight back to my hotel, where I called the police. They took a statement and I thought that was the end of it. The following morning I told the tale to my Dutch colleagues. One asked if I had been threatened with a dirty needle. This was common at the time because of the threat of AIDs. I have never run so fast, to the gents to strip off and check myself all over.

None of my actions were planned - everything was instinct, fuelled by adrenaline. Like I said, you do not know how you will react in a given situation and I would not like to judge others without "being there"

Sent from another Galaxy

whoa sorry to hear you had such a **** experience in our country... glad you defended yourself and got out OK!!

It was a long time ago. I'm not that fast these days

As a former news photog, I've been there. I have and will dropped my gear and assignment(s) to help others in dire need. I do know other journalist and photojournalists who would never interfere and actually look down at me for not doing my job and for losing my status as an observer.

I feel for Carter. What they don't teach you in school is that you are as responsible for what you see as you are for what you do. Ultimately, all journalists/war correspondents will learn that lesson but, by the time it is learned it's too late to save themselves from all the faces from the stories. Like slivers of shrapnel from an old wound, working its way to the surface, the faces and images which are buried deep in our sub-conscience will slowly work their way to our conscience and the light of day. No rush, those faces have a lifetime, your lifetime, to remind you of what you saw. As a volunteer, you never really had to be there, you didn't have to be at that place, at that time, just to see what you thought you had to see.

Gary

wow Gary that's quite a way to land here ... strong and heartfelt.

thanks.

if you've joined to stick around (or even if you joined to add to this thread only), you're very welcome here ... there is a "welcomes and introductions" thread if you like that sort of thing.

Originally Posted by pdh

wow Gary that's quite a way to land here ... strong and heartfelt.

thanks.

if you've joined to stick around (or even if you joined to add to this thread only), you're very welcome here ... there is a "welcomes and introductions" thread if you like that sort of thing.

Thanks pdh. I'm active over at Amin's other site µ4/3. I heard a lot about Serious Compacts so I'm here taking a peak. The closest thing I have to a compact are a couple of OM-D's (I guess that works for here).

Gary

PS- The OP of the guy slapping his wife ... I would have shot that also, lol ... now if he starts to pummel her ... I'd interfere.
G

Originally Posted by Gary

PS- The OP of the guy slapping his wife ... I would have shot that also, lol ... now if he starts to pummel her ... I'd interfere.
G

Just so you know Gary, I'm in charge of slapping around here. Welcome! Glad you found the place.

Yes, Luke and I play "good cop, bad cop" And it's a welcome from me too, Gary. Hope you find much here to stimulate you - and please do contribute!

Originally Posted by Luke

Just so you know Gary, I'm in charge of slapping around here. Welcome! Glad you found the place.

Wow, now-a-days they'll give anybody a badge (lol) ... Yes sir, I'll take that as a fair warning, sir.



Gary

PS- How about those Dodgers ... neck-to-neck with the Giants as they turn into the final stretch.
G

PPS- Good seeing you here.
G

Originally Posted by Lightmancer

Yes, Luke and I play "good cop, bad cop" And it's a welcome from me too, Gary. Hope you find much here to stimulate you - and please do contribute!

Obviously you're the 'Good Cop' ... thank you for the warm welcome. As many of the players are the same, I found much redundancy between here and µ4/3, so I'll try not to duplicate my content.

Gary