Exercise - Walk the Line by Max Houghton and Imaging War by Jonathan Kaplan

http://www.oca-student.com/sites/default/files/Foto823_KaplanHoughton.pdf

Read here ..


Imaging War - Jonathan Kaplan  (war surgeon, author, photographer).

This article talks about turning doctors into surgeons and how it used to be such a hands on learning experience.  21,000 hours of training were required in emergency rooms and theatres.  A very hands on experience of the body and its parts, the instruments and how to use them all planning outcomes and responding to problems.

The first part of the learning was to deal with stab wounds and bullet holes, but it was said 'to learn the art of surgery you had to go to war'.

Perhaps there are similarities in the assimilation of the practice of photojournalism.  A certain amount can be learned by studying images, but in the end you need to take your own photographs.  Go to war !

The problem of being a war surgeon is how not to become a casualty yourself.  War wounds are
particularly awful and gory.  Over the years he discovered that their was an interest for his photographs of the casualties.  Graphic surgical pictures do exist, although not sure whether there is a market. But in reality surgery is hugh entertainment.

Over the past decade surgical training has been cut back to 9,500 hours, and many of these changes have been made possible by introducing imaging technology.  Computer generated digital casualties can give the surgeons a wide range of injuries to treat.. and there is even now remote telepresence surgery, robotically manipulated.

Televised surgery is also booming - so what are the limits on what we might wish to be shown. ?
Once having submitted an amputation for landmine injury for publication, they wouldn't submit incase someone saw it and was put off and so therefore wouldn't make a purchase.  So the question of what kind of images of the human body are considered suitable for publication is one that rightfully persists.


Walk the Line - Max Houghton 

The question of which images are fit for publication on the grounds of taste is one with which picture editors grapple with on a daily basis.
Dead American soldiers are a no no for the US press, yet the image of a war-battered American soldier
sweeps to victory at the world press awards.

Two examples, the first of Saddams sons who were displayed as trophy images, then at a conference one woman declared she couldn't look at the 'falling man' (twin towers), and issued a plea for the family. Yet no plea was issued on behalf of the dead Taliban.

Jonathan Kaplan words, "I usually find that the goriest pictures don't actually tell the story very well'
The gore tends to distract from any emotion or feeling other than basic revulsion at the image rather than the tragedy that is being illustrated.


One picture discussed was that of a bleeding dying mother who's baby son sat beside her distressed. There was question over wether to publish and / or whether to use black and white. A journalist Tracy McVeigh felt this woman should not be a nameless victim of the latest Kenyan violence.  She opened body bag to find this woman and eventually identified her as Grace Mungai.  After that she was able to find her husband and son - this picture was then a story not just an illustration.

Another story was that of the reports of down syndrome suicide bombers, they found themselves looking at the faces, trying to see, anyway that wasn't published, they drew a line.


Obviously there has to be lines, borders, that we don't cross and I think most people will get a gut feeling about something, if it make you wince and feel no way then thats a good sign !

I suppose its more difficult when the picture is less offensive, and some feel it acceptable and other do not.  It would also depend on the report also, if it was meant to shock then the picture would be appropriate.  Clear as mud I feel ..

Also when the reporter knows the person in the picture, or the name is known then that also makes it more personal to every one - I felt myself change about the Kenya picture when the journalist discovered who she was.