I am surprised that people
don't think there is an ethical issue here that one should consider.
I feel the same way about a reporter who had peeked into the home of a grieving family and sneaked a picture of them
The pictures might be good or great but has the photographer exploited the family's situation, not for any purpose but his or her own, without bringing any more knowledge about the situation but certainly emotion.
A homeless person or even one in very straitened circumstances has a vulnerability that the rest of society doesn't have, they are forced to do much of what they do in the view of the public without the protection of walls that we enjoy.
So I think that any picture I take must bring something new to the issue, something that isn't obvious, and not just use their situation, exploiting their life for my sake.
I thought through this issue several years ago when I read a long discussion in an '
ethics in photography group' and have my opinion as others have theirs.
You read the title before you viewed the thread. Take some responsibility for your actions.
A completely incomprehensible statement.
I have an opinion about the ethics of shooting the homeless or the poor that predates this posting by several years. Like selective color, it should be done rarely and only when there is a really good purpose.
Lew, with this signature you ought to be able to also view photography like a grown-up and not pass disparaging comments about some very compelling photography! The world is not only beautiful, it has its ugly sides, worst if they are ugly for people (!), and those NEED TO BE SHOWN. It is necessary and important to also show those sides, even if it provokes unpleasant feelings in the viewer. And the photos we get to see here are FAR from any kind of ... I won't repeat the phrase you used! So please watch your words.
Oh, LaFoto, I didn't say the photos weren't good. I think the third one is terrific.
But at what cost to the people photographed? Shouldn't we, as grownups respect others' human condition and not take this picture when they are in their darkest place - unless the picture serves some other good.
If you fell down a hill, went head over tails, and landed with your dress up around your ears, showing your bottom to the public, how would you feel if someone took a picture of that and put it on a website for the world to see? You would probably feel angry and embarrassed that your fall had been exploited to arouse cheap sensations -
for no real good.
Well, I feel the same way about pictures of the poor and homeless.
There is always a balance between capturing a moment that will inform the viewers and exploiting a situation for your own sake and where a photographer comes down on any particular situation should be, again my opinion, a result of consideration about the ethical issue involved.
I think that, at least, a photographer should think about this issue before seeing every situation as an opportunity to make pictures.
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