Melodrama Much?
Well, I had a few more days to reflect, and I don't know if I liked that last post I did. It smelled of too much drama. I'm not trying to guilt anyone or myself, and I'm definitely not demeaning any of the work that anyone is doing in the relief effort. I wrote that while I was sad, angry, tired, gassy, melancholy, and subsequently tired again. I wish I could just show you instead of telling you. However the only machine that has USB was tied up by the guy from TIME, and I think CNN just came in and left. Sucker.
So that will have to wait a few more days. I'm sure you've been saturated with pictures and videos of the disaster, but hey, what's a few more right? As an aside, my shots are not gruesome, and mostly landscape pictures. I rarely take "people photos", though the opportunity presents itself numerous times. The first was at a cemetery a few weeks ago, before the tsunami hit. A mother finally found out where her daughter was buried after 4 years, a casualty of war. I chose not to take pictures because I felt it a personal moment, I didn't want to invade her space. Other people did take photos, and I was appalled.
Fast forward to two days ago and I see a picture someone took of a woman, leaning against a building, tears streaming down her face. She was at one of the mass grave sites. I saw that picture, and I felt it. I don't know how to describe it, but I "felt" the picture. It was incredibly moving, and though I wasn't there at the time, it captured the significance of the moment perfectly. And then I had an epiphany of sorts. I thought back to the most important photographs I had seen. Like the one of John & Bobby Kennedy sitting across from each other in a hotel room. Or of the child suffering from starvation being watched a few feet away by a vulture. These pictures definitely affected me and/or "moved" me. The human element was missing from my photos. In a few years, looking back I'll remember the scenery on the whole, but to remember the moment...
So I've decided to change my photographic style substantially. If and when a situation presents itself, I should try and capture the human aspect of it.
That was a terribly long post about picture taking. Point and shoot idiot, just point and shoot. (That summed up it up fairly well)
Anyway, I'm gonna get going. I'm walking back to my accommodations, and to avoid a repeat of last night, I want to actually find it. I never realized how freaking dark it is at night...
Also, this was rather poignant I thought.
Labels: travel
4 comment:
Oh yeah, I'll try and get a copy of that picture I mentioned, however, since I didn't take it, it will be watermarked & disclaimed as not mine. I know ppl thief pictures online all the time, so I don't want the person who took it, to lose "control" of it. Edit
This thread talks about the moral dilema present in photography. I think you should take pictures whenever you can and debate whether it is exploitation after the fact. You can always erase pictures and destroy film. You can't go back and take the picture. Edit
I'm not entirely sure about taking pictures whenever you can, especially when you are noticed doing so. Sometimes you need to let people be; give them space to deal with things privately, even if they're out in public. I can't imagine that facing tragedy is made easier by seeing people take your picture while you endure it.
Don't get me wrong. I think the human elements are definitely important. You have a connection to the place and the people, so I'm sure you'll be more sensitive. I've just been reading stories at work about 'disaster tourists' and I find their words and actions are disgusting.
p Edit
gassy. hahaha, at least i know you are still in good spirits, as much as possible i assume, when you include simpsons references. Edit
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