Powerful photos *warning: sensitive subjects*

[deanimator]

"On Photography" ...Maybe the most famous and insightful books ever written about what photography really is.

 

[gtkelly]

We're getting way away from the original question - which was how to deal with powerful photos.

In my mind the photo itself - regardless of content - is itself powerless. It's all based on the emotion and phychology of the person viewing it. Every one has their own perspective. The initial photo here can be viewed with horror, outrage, or shame based on one's perspective. That is the greatest thing about photography in my opinion. It causes everyone to see and percieve something a bit differently.

This thread is a great example of that. We're looking at it from a purely technical and analytical perspective and so avoid the deep emotion tied to the content that a more casual observer might see immediately.

The photos that have the greatest impact to me remain those of my kids minutes after birth. But I don't expect anyone else to react the same.

 

[JimmyJaceyMom]

Not had enough?
This is another of the most famous images from Vietnam

http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs024/images/canon/06.jpg

Oh my gosh! Great minds think alike as I was about to go look for htis after I read all the posts. Weird. !

 

[nabero]

sontag's regarding the pain of others discusses something similar to this...interesting read

 

[schumionbike]

Oh my gosh! Great minds think alike as I was about to go look for htis after I read all the posts. Weird. !

That's a famous picture all right, shot by Eddie Adam in 1968 during the Tet Offensive in Saigon. Just a little bit of history behind the shot. The South Vietnamese and the Viet Cong had an agreement for a cease fire during Tet (Lunar New Year) to give peole a chance to enjoy the new year. Right on the eve of New Year, after the Ho Chi Minh did his well wishes, the shot fire. Did I mentioned that less than half the South Vietnamese military was on full alert at this point? A lesson they didn't forget.

Back to the photograph, the man holding the pistol was South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, the man that was shot was Viet Cong captian who was believe to have killed the the wife and children of a South Vietnamese police officer. You can read more about it if you just google Nguyen Ngoc Loan.

The reason I post this is to simply demonstrated that while picture do not lies, they certainly don't tell the whole story.

 

[schumionbike]

These two for me are powerful photo from Vietnam, they certainly tell you what the future would hold for Vietnam.

http://www.vietnamwar.com/vietnamwar_fallofsaigon.jpg
http://www.vietnamwar.com/vietnamwar_fallofsaigon1.jpg

 

[schumionbike]

Tank Man


http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/0/05/300px-TankMan2.jpg

The tanks moved from it original position in the first picture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tianasquare.jpg

 

[newrmdmike]

being in southeast asia at very poor border towns has introduced me to starving children, landmine victims etc.

as of now i havn't picked up my camera to photograph them, its a pretty hard thing to do. i remember reading about a photographer who commited suicide after taking a photograph like those. it may have been the guy who photographed the african child with the vulture waiting for it to die.

its difficult not to help in a direct sense. and photographing it only would make me wish i had done something more.

 

[Peanuts]

I find there is often a very fine line in between a powerful thought-provoking image and one that was taken solely for the reason of explotation. During my trip to Sierra Leone, I was constantly told by the head people to avoid "poverty porn" as they so called it - essentially, the images we are constantly bombarded with of 'poor starving kids in Africa with flies in their eyes'. It is definitely a reality, and a reality that should be brought attention to, but we are now essentially 'immune' to these images.

At the same time, if we were to hear of an event such as the one of Kim Phuc, how much thought would be put to it? Perhaps it is just me but images are so impactful. Seeing a face to a description makes it hit so much closer to home.

Just my $0.02

Not so interesting fact, but the Tiananmen Square protests ended the day I was born, the same day "The Unknown Rebel" image was taken. Completely random, but hey.

 

[craig]

For me powerful photos include a deeply human element. For example the work of Dorothea Lange or W. Eugene Smith. In their work I could look into the subjects eyes and get a stronger understanding of what was happening in the photo. Maybe even a stronger understanding of the subjects emotion or thought at that moment in time. That is what really what affects me.

Personally if I see a frozen murder scene like the ones posted from Vietnam or whatever it has less of an impact. Of course the scene is gruesome, but it does not go further then that.

Have to say that it is an interesting subject. One that goes over my head for sure. The incomprable Susan Sontag wrote an essay that is slightly pertinent to the subject http://southerncrossreview.org/35/sontag.htm

Keep in mind that we do not have to dig through the archives to find powerful images. Current crimes against humanity make Vietnam and WWII look like Disneyland. Check out the work from the gang at Magnum. Also check out Maryanne Golon and her crew at Time. Dig deep.

Love & Bass

 

[deanimator]

The child + vulture + photographer suicide story is here
...for those who want to know...and perhaps understand something...
I think it´s important to look, and think...
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/kevin_carter/sudan_child.htm

 

[usayit]

The child + vulture + photographer suicide story is here
...for those who want to know...and perhaps understand something...
I think it´s important to look, and think...
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/kevin_carter/sudan_child.htm

I've seen that photo a few times but never really knew the story behind it. Very powerful. Makes me wonder how many of us in that situation could snap that photo and simply walk away.

 

[RMThompson]

This image has always spoken to me, because of the capture of pure horror in that girl's face.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Kent_State_massacre.jpg

But what about this famous Photo. Taken at just the right time... looks staged but was not.

http://www.jfkmurdersolved.com/speech/30 Oswald shot by Jack Ruby.jpg

 

[Corry]

This image has always spoken to me, because of the capture of pure horror in that girl's face.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Kent_State_massacre.jpg

But what about this famous Photo. Taken at just the right time... looks staged but was not.

http://www.jfkmurdersolved.com/speech/30 Oswald shot by Jack Ruby.jpg

I had to change your pictures to links, as per forum policy (if you don't own it, or you don't have written permission from the owner, then only link to it, don't post the photo itself)


I'm surprised at how much attention this thread has gotten, but very pleased with a lot of the replies. Many of you make wonderful points.

 

[Corry]

That's a famous picture all right, shot by Eddie Adam in 1968 during the Tet Offensive in Saigon. Just a little bit of history behind the shot. The South Vietnamese and the Viet Cong had an agreement for a cease fire during Tet (Lunar New Year) to give peole a chance to enjoy the new year. Right on the eve of New Year, after the Ho Chi Minh did his well wishes, the shot fire. Did I mentioned that less than half the South Vietnamese military was on full alert at this point? A lesson they didn't forget.

Back to the photograph, the man holding the pistol was South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, the man that was shot was Viet Cong captian who was believe to have killed the the wife and children of a South Vietnamese police officer. You can read more about it if you just google Nguyen Ngoc Loan.

The reason I post this is to simply demonstrated that while picture do not lies, they certainly don't tell the whole story.

That is a very good point, too! I highly doubt anyone would come to that conclusion if they saw that photo with no commentary as to what was going on.

And I am also willing to bet that if everyone did know the story behind it, the photo would lose a lot of its impact.