On 23/1/07, John Coyle, discombobulated, unleashed: >Yesterday, a young man died in the small park opposite where I live. The >street was full of police and their vehicles, for about 5 hours all told. >Despite the fact that I could see all this action, and from our roof could >see the body and the various examinations taking place, I did not shoot a >single photograph.
>What would you have done? Personally I don't think morality is an issue. I think it's about personal comfort and the law. On a daily basis I film ongoing 'news' scenes such as this and one gets used to it. Knowing what is within the law in terms of not disturbing a crime scene etc is useful, but to be honest there is little to upset by shooting. It's the publishing that needs careful consideration, and editors decide accordingly. I regularly film people going into court buildings, many of whom are jurors - I don't know that of course - and am sometimes only given the skimpiest of descriptions (white male about 30!) but the point is that shots of jurors can never be broadcast. So just because an image is acquired does not mean it will be published. If shooting (stills or video) in circumstances such as these is uncomfortable then the outcome is obvious - one will not do it, and probably think very little of those that would. That's okay by me, as I have a mortgage to pay and a place in hell guaranteed :-) The point about shooting a scene like that isn't necessarily immediately obvious. The young man in the park is likely a druggie or a victim of gang action or an innocent bystander or whatever. But if later it transpires that he is the son of a Osama Bin Bombadier then the nature of the scene takes on a new importance, and to have no historical account (as newspaper and television news images do become a part) would be a loss. The point of recording a scene like this - whether it be by image, voice, or even crayon - is that it fulfils a very small part of history and gives others access to information that a free press commands. Now I'll read the other replies and assume my position at the bottom of the food chain ;-) -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| http://www.cottysnaps.com _____________________________ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
