I have said this before, and I will say it again: photographs capture moments in time, and photographers, in turn, can act as historians, authors, educators, and reporters. With this power comes a lot of responsibility, and this responsibility is sometimes negkected when the self centered interests of a photographer take precedence over basic dignity and respect.
A few days ago, paparazzi from an entertainment based news source (whose name I will not include because they do not deserve any free publicity or additional viewership) photographed and published the body of an individual who sustained a fatal injury. These images were used to break the news of this person's untimely and unexpected passing, and it spread like wildfire on the internet. Thousands of horrified and repulsed people criticized the entertainment news outlet on social media.
In taking and sharing these images, the photographers and publishers stripped the deceased of their humanity. The person was objectified and treated as a spectacle. The entertainment news outlet, in their blind ambition to be the first people to publicly break this story, shared these images in the pursuit of both power and financial gain. The photographers and publishers disregarded their responsibilities for the sake of their own self-centered interests despite the suffering of others.
Good photographers reflect on why they take and share photos, and they maintain respect and compassion towards the people they photograph. Technique, creativity, and photo quality only make up a small fraction of what is necessary to be among the best in photpgraphy. Photographers, both amateur and professional, need to recognize and remember the immense power that they possess because failure to do so can have catastrophic and painful results.
May the person who was the target of this disgusting behavior rest in peace, and may their fans and loved ones find the strength and healing they need.
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