It appears the real question here is what would you do with the pictures taken?
Kenneth Waller ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cotty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Moral dilemma > 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 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
