Sometimes family members are deeply offended by someone photographing their
injured relatives. Besides the "bad taste" element, the camera may be
damaged or stuffed up one of the photographers bodily orifices.
Photojournalists take those risks. /jnm
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of mike m.
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 3:57 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] Too good to photograph (was " Oben (OT / Flame," etc.)
Too good to photograph has been a problem in the past, especially where
the situation
offers up different opportunities at the same time. Trying to decide
which to capture
gives me fits. But what about to bad to photograph? Earlier this summer,
I was returning from a weekend at the river and was driving back home by
myself with my trusty 4-T sitting in the truck beside me. As I topped
over a small hill, there was a car in the road and several people
standing around and lying in the road were two
young boys ten to twelve years old. Both had been struck by the car,
driven by an elderly lady on her way to church and the scene was
horrific. I pulled to the side of the road and opened the door to the
sounds of the mother screaming hysterically,huddled over one of the
boys. I looked at my camera sitting there, then surveyed the scene
again. I could not make myself pick up that camera. I rushed over to the
boy and started checking for vital signs and made sure that someone had
called
an ambulance. I was the first person on the scene other than the victims
and their families. Not to go into a long story, but both the boys were
severely injured but they did survive. We were out in the country and it
was 45 minutes before medical help arrived, and the emotional out
pouring of the people involved was unbelievable.The poor old lady that
hit them was probably in her 70's and she was almost in shock.The boys
kept going in and out of conscienceness and would start crying out in
pain.
The mother and two sisters of one of the boys just crying and screaming
uncontrollably
is still etched in my mind.
After they were treated and taken to the hospital I still had an hour to
drive, alone except for my thoughts of what I had just experienced. I
started to question my decision of not taking any pictures, thought it
over every which way I could and came to the conclusion that I did the
right thing. I'm sure I could have captured some gut renching emotional
images that morning but something wouldn't let me. Guess I'll never make
it as a photojournalist.
later,
mike m.
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|