People and Cameras

I think generally, I am better behind the camera. I probably feel a little more comfortable taking the pictures because that puts me in a position where I feel as though I have slightly more control over the situation. On the other hand, I don't exactly mind having my picture taken; in fact, I think I am a lot more comfortable than many people because I don't particularly feel any different while my picture is being taken. However, if the photographer doesn't tell me a specific way that they want me to look, I'll just consistently make weird faces at them until I get bored; then I'll ignore them.

I haven't encountered many people who act very uneasy when I try to photograph them. I think it helps quite a bit that I approach them in a casual manner and let them interpret the situation however they like because if I act like taking their picture is no big deal, usually it isn't to them either it seems. If they want to pose, then I let them; if they seem a bit shyer then I let them look away or just pretend that I'm not there. Basically, I've found it works best to work with your subject and allow them to act however they feel most comfortable.

Lester's Ethics

Lester discusses the laws and ethics concerning a number of situations faced by photojournalists. I think there are multiple situations where photojournalism is legal but rather unethical. One circumstance is situations where the subjects are injured or grieving. Apparently, photography of subjects under these circumstances is illegal in other countries despite newsworthiness. Also, I question the ethics of police having the authority to allow photos to be taken of people who have been killed.

I also believe that many of the activities of the paparazzi are unethical. Stalking is not legal, so what they do probably should not be either. I agree with Mundt (professor of photojournalism at Louisiana State University) who proposed that photos should be taken of famous faces only when they are involved in an activity that has “intrinsic news value".

Lastly, it seems logical to me, that people should have some kind of right over their image being published. However, the laws could obviously be more lenient for specific circumstances, but if readily possible, I think the subject should either grant permission or be compensated in some way.

In Plato's Cave

Susan Sontag makes a number of interesting claims about the role of the camera in modern society in her article “In Plato’s Cave.” One claim she makes is her comparison, that metaphorically, a camera now serves the same purpose as a gun. She even gives the example of a safari in which the camera has directly replaced the gun. Sontag explains how we use the camera to shoot subjects with a similar mindset: no so much to kill, as to preserve and to immortalize.

We take pictures and display them in our homes the same way a hunter displays the head of his kill -- almost as memorial to that thing, place, or moment in time. A more literal comparison between the two can be understood by remembering the remarkably similar terminology used during both the processes of hunting and taking pictures: load (ammunition or film), aim, and shoot.

The camera can also be compared to a gun in the way we use it to give us a certain kind of power over whatever we choose to point it at. (Similarly, I find it interesting the ways in which people react when they see a camera on them; often they try to move out of the shot or at least protect their face.) Additionally, the camera as a gun, gives us a level of protection from that which we are shooting by providing something to hide behind, separating us from whatever exists beyond our lens.

Documentation Completed

The final result of my document project deviated a bit from my initial proposition: in the end, I decided to photograph multiple individuals' faces while they played video games (i.e. Halo 3).

I photographed four of my friends (Tristan, Kyle, Ehson, and Jeremy) as they battled online in the late hours of the night. Between the four of them, over 200 photos were accumulated and eventually narrowed down to 12-16 a piece. Finally, I proceeded to compile a group of black and white photos from each person into a single image representing their range of emotion.

Document Proposal

Proposition: I intend to photograph one or more of my friends playing video games (either Halo 3 or BioShock). I will likely do it on several occasions for at least an hour to experiment with different combinations of variable including lighting, time of day, video game, number of people, framing, and the subjects' use of substances or lack of.

Basically, I'm just looking to capture the broadest range of emotions possible in the given situation. Additionally, I think it would be interesting, if I go the route of multiple subjects, to compare and contrast their expressions and/or body language.