Ethics in Photography
The job of a photojournalist is to present news and report through the use of the media especially that of photographs. They are usually freelance, allowing them to sell their images to whomever they choose and what stories they think are correct to complete the,. The subject matter varies from civil rights to natural destruction. The work of a photojournalist can take them all around the world. It can be exciting or in some cases, cost them their life.
Images accompanying a news story enhances the reality of many news stories and impacts the reader or viewer more than just seeing text would; newspapers often adopt photographers for their main stories for this reason. However, because of the reality some images bring to news stories, there are often large disputes and controversy over them and of the morals of the photographer.
Images accompanying a news story enhances the reality of many news stories and impacts the reader or viewer more than just seeing text would; newspapers often adopt photographers for their main stories for this reason. However, because of the reality some images bring to news stories, there are often large disputes and controversy over them and of the morals of the photographer.
Alan Kurdi
An example of how controversy can be caused through the work of a photojournalist is clear in the case of the 2015 'Migrant Crisis'. The photographs of the drowned boy Alan Kurdi, - from Turkish photojournalist Nilüfer Demir- were labeled as 'distressing' and 'upsetting'. They depict the boy lifeless on a beach in Bodrum after a boat capsized. From this it is clear to see why many were against the idea of the images being published across the worlds media, photographs of dead boys are something that should not be shown in daytime media unless the circumstances are crucial. This tells us how urgently the world needed to see this to make a change. The amount of attention they gained proved that the notoriety can be the key to change. These images sparked a change in the way Governments are dealing with the main issue. Due to the amount of pressure being put on them, leaders are now allowing more and more refugees into their countries and civilian are doing all they can to help.
All the good that the images have brought does not alter the fact that they are controversial. If it had not been a boy trying to escape a country who had died on the beach, and was instead, for example a tourist, the photographs would not have been taken. However, if that were the case, the photographs would still be a huge shock to the worlds media, only the story fitting it would not have been so dramatic and hard hitting on people. The issue the images of Alan Kurdi cover is of great importance. With this in mind, I believe Nilufer Demir was correct in taking the photos. Such positive and much needed actions were taken due to emotions triggered by the photographs; without them, maybe nothing would have been done. Sometimes contoversy is what is needed in order to make people see sense.
All the good that the images have brought does not alter the fact that they are controversial. If it had not been a boy trying to escape a country who had died on the beach, and was instead, for example a tourist, the photographs would not have been taken. However, if that were the case, the photographs would still be a huge shock to the worlds media, only the story fitting it would not have been so dramatic and hard hitting on people. The issue the images of Alan Kurdi cover is of great importance. With this in mind, I believe Nilufer Demir was correct in taking the photos. Such positive and much needed actions were taken due to emotions triggered by the photographs; without them, maybe nothing would have been done. Sometimes contoversy is what is needed in order to make people see sense.